At the onset of the full-scale invasion, the Zaporizhstal employee volunteered to go to war, was seriously injured, but chose to continue service.

Mykola, a Zaporizhstal employee, is now a Ukrainian defender carrying the call sign Siedoi. At Zaporizhstal, he worked as a crew leader in the unloading area of the hot rolling shop.

He enlisted in the early days of the full-scale war. In 2022, he joined the 110th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces and fought in the 116th Battalion.

"My son-in-law also works at Zaporizhstal, so we went to the draft office together," says Siedoi in an interview with Zaporizhzhia journalists.

"The first hit caught me"

He served in the 116th Battalion defending the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia sectors.

While he's no stranger to physical labour, infantry service comes with its own challenges:

"Digging. The clay in the Donetsk region is something else. And you dig in deep ... I recall the rookies grumbling, ‘That's enough, I've done enough digging.’ But once the shelling and mortar fire started, they dug in properly, all in all.'"

Siedoi and his fellow soldiers were always at the forefront, fending off the occupiers’ attacks. The commander called them a "first response group".

During a field mission near the village of Novopil in the autumn of 2022, the defender was severely wounded.

"We heard on the radio that an IFV was heading our way, and the first hit caught me. What can I say? I can only repeat what the guys who pulled me out told me," Mykola says.

Mykola shared more details about that battle with the Telegram channel "Zaporizka Lava":

"In 2022, in this area, we were ordered to support our comrades at one of the positions under heavy enemy attack. Some of them were already wounded. My group arrived and spread out. An IFV opened fire on us.

The first blast struck close to me, severely injuring my leg and driving shrapnel into my head. I didn’t hear a thing. Dying wasn’t scary at all! I’m grateful to the guys who dragged me through two shelterbelts to safety. I was evacuated."

Source of strength and support

"I underwent amputation in Poland and continued treatment here in Zaporizhzhia. It took eight months from the injury to receiving the first temporary prosthesis," says Mykola.

Zaporizhstal helped with rehabilitation: the company has a comprehensive support programme for conscripted employees, including financial assistance for recovery and rehabilitation. After receiving the prosthesis and completing rehabilitation, the defender returned to Zaporizhstal and resumed work in his shop.

"In the difficult times after my injury, the plant’s management supported me a lot," says Mykola gratefully.

Metinvest has been providing the military with essential equipment and gear since the first days of the war.

"At the beginning of the full-scale war, Zaporizhstal provided me with a bulletproof vest. Overall, the company really supports our army."

His beloved has been a steady source of strength and support for Siedoi.

"My wife's name is Viktoriia. We used to take pictures together all the time when I was a civilian. But now the phone isn’t always on. So my wife printed out a photo to keep it close to heart."

"I can climb into an IFV if I need to, even though my foot doesn’t bend"

Mykola chose to return to the army because he couldn’t bear civilian life. He explains that the perspective on events is different there.

Even though it took some time, in 2023, he voluntarily signed a three-year contract and returned to the front lines to join the 113th Battalion. He is still serving today.

"The draft office initially rejected me because I was taken off their register. I wasn’t in the best physical shape after my injury. But I set my mind to getting in shape – and I did!

I went to the recruitment centre of the draft office, and they helped me. All the paperwork was taken care of. I passed the military medical examination.

At one point, a few guys I knew were transferred to the 113th Battalion. They said it’s a good unit with a good commander and impressive and effective operations! My decision was supported at all command levels – platoon, company, battalion, and brigade. I signed a three-year contract. We’ll keep at it!"

Mykola believes that everyone plays an important role in the war now:

"I'm part of the team now. I can jump over a one-and-a-half-metre trench when I hear the sound of an FPV. I can climb into an IFV if I need to, even though my foot doesn’t bend.

I'm treated no differently from anyone else. A sense of humour helps. The guys at the positions can hear me coming from afar because my prosthesis squeaks a little – so they won’t mistake me for anyone else.

When I come home, I change my prosthesis just like everyone else changes their shoes – I have one with a Talan boot [a military boot] and another with a slipper."

Mykola’s biggest wish, like that of all Ukrainians, is for victory to come soon.

"We need to work for this. I hope people now realise that they need to defend their homes. Because if these bastards come, we’ll be forced to live in fear. You have to defend your home!"

Mykola dreams of returning to a calm, peaceful life. He admits he has many plans for the future:

"I want to go back home, to my house, and not be afraid that something might strike it. Ultimately, I’d like to return to Zaporizhstal and get back to work."