His life has been connected with the company for almost 40 years, and he spent two and a half of them serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, defending Ukraine's independence and freedom in the hottest hostilities areas. A few months ago, Volodymyr Shchelkachov demobilized and returned to Kamet-Steel, to the Sinter Shop.

Volodymyr's metallurgical speciality is a wagon tipper operator, and he has been working at this particular area of the Sinter Plant for many years. At the same time, this balanced man with a warm, sunny smile has another military speciality – he is an anti-aircraft missile platoon commander. And in this profession, Senior Lieutenant Shchelkachov "worked" with honour and conscience in the most difficult combat areas of eastern Ukraine.

Volodymyr was first mobilised in 2014, and his year of service is marked by such names as Dobropillia, Avdiivka, Karlivka and many others - names that are synonymous with bravery and commitment to pledge for ATO soldiers. On the first day of the full-scale invasion, 24 February 2022, he went to defend the country under the warning order. And again, on the eastern sector, Izyum and Bakhmut are the names, to which all of us are paying court today. We understand that the war is not a reason for idle curiosity, and therefore we are grateful to receive an answer to our questions.

– Volodymyr, it is believed that war significantly changes a person, his or her outlook and idea of reality. Is it so for you personally?

– I can't say that active service has changed me a lot. Ukraine must be defended. We must work for Ukraine. I knew this before, and lately, perhaps, I have only strengthened this knowledge and lost the desire to argue and prove something to those who "have their own opinion". I had to lead people in the war, and believe me, being a commander in battle is only romantic and pathetic in the movies, but in reality, it is a huge stress and responsibility. I learnt to see and accept people as they are, without labelling them, because at the front, human behaviour can be very unexpected. For example, there was a soldier in my unit who is so called "daredevil". However, at the most difficult moment of our withdrawal from Bakhmut, it was he who drove the car, even though it was not his duty, and under serious fire, he and I drove our guys out of the position. The war has also probably taught me to truly love and appreciate everything that is worth it.

It is clear that, our hero is talking about his closest and dearest people in the first place. His wife Nataliia, who recently also worked at the plant for many years, his son and daughter were the core of his iron will, the warmth and light that shone from afar every minute and warmed him even in the deepest darkness, and for which he had to fight. There was not always a possibility for communication, but faith and loyalty were there every moment.

Friends and colleagues from the Sinter Plant, who hid their real concern for Volodymyr behind short messages: "How are you?" And his restrained responses: "I'm Ok, try to stay strong" although could not deceive, but gave them hope that he was really holding on. And when we got in touch, the first question was: "What kind of help do you need, what can we do for you?" We received support from Metinvest Group, uniforms, a winter thermal kit, and repeated humanitarian aid for the family.

Therefore, it is not surprising that, having demobilized and rested on a vacation, Volodymyr Shchelkachov started working at Kamet-Steel as soon as possible. He considers a stable job and salary to be very important components of civilian life because his family, which has been waiting for him, should have harmony and prosperity, and his daughter should receive a decent education.

– I have been at this company all my life. Today, my work, along with the comfort of my home and the love of my family, symbolise for me a return to a peaceful, familiar, stable life. Yes, some things have changed at Kamet-Steel over this time, but my professional duties, the equipment I work with are familiar, I know my work - my hands remember it. And I was welcomed back by the same people who saw me off, who supported me during my service, who cared about me. Senior foreman Valerii Perekopskyi, who, so to speak, brought me up to speed, offered new career opportunities. Our crew leader and concurrently trade union leader Nelli Poruchykova is truly our guardian on the shop floor: attentive and caring, asking me how I am doing almost every day, always ready to help. But I don't feel lost, helpless, or abandoned. It feels good to be here.

"We are happy to have our wonderful employee back - a true professional, a composed and positive-thinking colleague. Volodymyr is very responsible, his operational and technological discipline is on the highest level, and he is always ready to support the team in performing complex production tasks. He immediately accepted the offer to take on more responsibility - to operate the wagon tipper, now as a Grade 4 operator, which the highest grade," says Valerii PEREKOPSKYI, senior foreman of the burden preparation department.