War veterans are coming back to Metinvest's enterprises in Kryvyi Rih. Some of them have already worked here before, and some are just looking for their job in the company. Vladyslav Yegorov has been working as a site mechanic at Ore Beneficiation Plant No. 2 of Northern GOK for two months. The 32-year-old veteran got a job at the enterprise after demobilisation.
War changes everything: life, outlook, priorities. Upon returning home, Vladyslav Yegorov changed his place of work and profession – he headed the pumping equipment section of Ore Beneficiation Plant No. 2 (OBP-2). His tasks are to coordinate the work of contractors and ensure the stable operation of pumping equipment. Vlad has necessary education behind him – he studied beneficiation technologies at the Industrial College of Kryvyi Rih National University, and experience – before the full-scale invasion, he worked in an organisation that maintained and repaired mining equipment. At that time, the specialist mainly took care of LURGI indurating machine, and later participated in construction works at the enterprise.
At the beginning of 2022, Vladyslav Yegorov planned to work to Northern GOK as a mill operator, but the plans were disrupted by the war, and the man went to the front. The former ATO member took part in the defence of Bakhmut and Klishchiivka.
About the front
"In total, I spent two years less two weeks on the front line. Of these, up to a year - on the front line. Mainly in Donetsk region. My unit is part of the 756th Security Regiment of the State Special Transport Service. At first, I served as a rifleman, and later I was transferred to stormtroopers and machine gunners. To a certain extent, it was easier for me than for some other brothers-in-arm: after all, I had combat experience of service in a special unit during ATO in 2016-2018".
During all this time, the fighter had only a couple of vacations, one of which was given a year ago, when his second child was born.
"War makes you different. On the positive side, you learn to think, keep your head, be resilient. It is important to keep your head clear, because it doesn't take long to go crazy. Interact effectively with your brothers-in-arm, because life depends on it. A stormtrooper is a special path, a separate caste. The rules are different every time because every assault is different, so it's not one universal scheme of action. Today, I'm probably not afraid of anything. We fought with the Wagnerites, with the paratroopers, and with ordinary soldiers. I believe that if your time is set, it will come wherever you are. When I'm fully involved in a task, there's no fear. There is you, there are your brothers-in-arms, and there is an enemy. That's what you focus on. The guys fight for every piece of land, almost every combat encounter amounts to a Hollywood action movie. And I want civilians here to understand what a difficult battle it is, how difficult it is".
About return
One thing is to return to your dear team at your former place of work. To come to a new team, a new profession is a completely different matter. However, Vladyslav adapted quite quickly.
"For someone, it is difficult to adjust to peaceful life after the front, but for me it was not a task with an asterisk. It's not that two years on the front line have passed without leaving a trace. No, it doesn't happen that way for anyone. It's just that, having military experience before, it was easier for me to overcome its consequences. Although in two years of service in a special unit on the front line during ATO, I did not see even part of what I had to face in this war... Psychologists have worked with us more than once at the front, including after injuries. They taught us what to focus on, for example, how to "anchor" on loved ones, and not on combat missions and everyday life. All this is done in order to quickly recover psychologically – and again into battle, fulfill the assigned missions, because there is nobody to replace.
At the factory it was difficult at first from a purely production side, because I had never worked with pumping equipment before. But thanks to my colleagues and managers, I've learned all the rules and instructions, and I may be said to have gained a foothold in this position.
Now, Vladyslav Yegorov's daily attention is focused on two teams of contractors, timely maintenance and repair of pumping equipment, deslimers and vacuum pumps.
"Working in a team is the best way to adapt, because you find yourself in a society, a well-coordinated team, where you perform common tasks, learn new things with the help of colleagues and overcome previously unfamiliar challenges. I feel full support here from my colleagues and my manager. When we met, he assured me that my experience would be useful here, what I didn't know – they would teach me, and the team would support me in everything".
The veteran's immediate supervisor, OBP-2 chief mechanic Dmytro Lykhenko, notes that although he had no experience with pumping equipment, Vladyslav came with a great desire and willingness to learn.
"I am an ore enrichment specialist and process engineer by education, but I have more experience in construction. We honour his significant military experience and help him immerse himself in business faster so that the equipment eventually works stably. I see his desire to develop, attentiveness, discipline. He's mastering the nuances of work step by step. In no case do we force events: mastering new things is never quick, especially after years on the front-line, when you need to somehow learn to live anew with the experience of war behind you. It's not easy, and in Vlad's case, he also has a new profession, a new team, so we provide him with all the necessary support. He was the first one who came to work with combat experience, so I remembered everything we were taught in the "Heroes Among Us" course for working with veterans. In particular, his main rule is not to pester the front-line soldier with questions. In general, colleagues in the workshop, line managers are all ready to advise and help. We have a friendly working environment, and Vladyslav is sure that he has every opportunity to grow and develop here.
About the main support
At home, the young man is supported by his wife and two children. The veteran's mother needs care, a 5-year-old son and a little daughter are waiting for the father's attention. Daily household chores fascinated Vladyslav.
"At home, all the advantages of everyday life are for you. Comfort. At first it’s a little unusual, but after a few days you switch – and it’s as if these long months of front-line restrictions never happened... Life must be lived. There are plans, there are dreams. I dream that the war will end and I will be able to go to the sea with my wife. We planned to do it after ATO, but it was never destined to be. Today, my family is my main stimulus and support. Sometimes I communicate with other veterans I know, we exchange experiences, discuss how the life is after demobilisation. When you are surrounded by people who understand you, it is much easier to return to normal life. Yes, my memories won't go anywhere, but it means a lot that I can discuss them freely and there is someone to do it with. So I move on with my life. I appreciate what I have now: work, certain stability, and family nearby”.
