In 2013, Vitalii Benko graduated from Vocational School No. 8, qualifying as a crane operator – a profession he had dreamed of pursuing since childhood. That same year, he began working at Zaporizhstal, where he was employed as a crane operator. He subsequently moved to Metinvest Machinery, where he continued working in his field of specialisation.
War altered the peaceful life of this industrial worker. Vitalii learned of the full-scale invasion from his relatives, who found themselves under occupation from the very first days. This became the turning point at which he resolved to stand in defence of his homeland and his family.
“I have a personal score to settle with this war. And it began on the day when my relatives found themselves under occupation. I would not wish such a fate on anyone,” Vitalii recalls.
In 2022, Vitalii enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and joined the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade named after Oleksa Dovbush. After completing his training, he was deployed to Vuhledar direction, where he served as a rifleman–air defence gunner.
Despite the challenging conditions of war, the soldier’s life did not come to a standstill. In the spring of 2023, Vitalii met his beloved, and in 2024 he started a family – today he and his wife are raising their daughter.
In the summer of 2024, he carried out combat missions in Svatove direction in Kharkiv region. Under the callsign “Benia”, he took part in repelling enemy assaults. Thanks to his driving skills, he continues to carry out the rotation of combat groups and the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield – work on which the lives of his comrades often depend.
“This work requires decisiveness and speed – our comrades’ health and lives depend on it. When you’re transporting the lads from the ‘zero line’, you're entirely focused on saving them. I can't let them down, their families, or ruin the mission,” the soldier notes.
For his service, Vitalii has received numerous awards, including the President of Ukraine’s award “For the Defence of Ukraine”, the “Golden Cross” badge, and the First Class “Jaeger Warrior’s Cross”.
Today, Vitalii continues his service and admits that he misses his home region, his family, and his team the most.
“Together with my comrades, we are doing everything possible to bring peace closer. We want to return to our families, to a normal life and to our work. The path we have already travelled has not been easy, but it is the right one. Everyone must work towards victory wherever they are, and not give up, no matter how difficult it may be. By supporting one another, we will certainly carry it all through,” Vitalii concludes.
