The earth trembled. Dmytro and Denis, soldiers of Ukraine’s 93rd Brigade, found themselves locked in a desperate struggle for Kostyantynivka, a city relentlessly targeted by Russian forces. Their days were a brutal cycle of fire contacts, each encounter claiming lives on both sides. They had neutralized seven enemy soldiers, but victory came at a terrifying cost.
Just weeks from rotation, their frontline home was systematically destroyed. A drone, spotting their success in a close-quarters fight, marked the house for demolition. For 26 agonizing days, they endured a relentless barrage of FPV drones and mortar fire, seeking shelter where they could. The constant assault chipped away at their strength and resolve.
Then came the blast. Dmytro’s shelter collapsed, burying him beneath tons of rubble. Darkness descended, and a chilling thought took root: he would die there, entombed in the earth. He fought panic, contorting his body to create a sliver of space, and began a desperate excavation with nothing but a knife and his bare hands.
Hours blurred into a grueling struggle for survival. Finally, he dug enough to move, but a horrific stench filled the air. Above him, suspended by the twisted roots of a tree, was the body of the first enemy soldier who had breached their defenses. Devoid of a face, it dripped onto him, an image seared into his memory.
The 93rd Brigade, known as the “Cyborgs” for their tenacious defense of Donetsk airport in 2014, has a long and distinguished history. They were among the first to confront the full force of the 2022 invasion, and have since pioneered innovative tactics, even deploying robotic machine gun platforms against advancing Russian troops. Their commander emphasizes a core principle: the value of every human life.
Despite his near-death experience, Dmytro remained at his post, enduring the continued onslaught. He retreated to a dugout, his legs growing weak from inactivity over those 26 days. The eventual 10-kilometer withdrawal was a brutal test of his diminished strength, each step a monumental effort.
Photographs of Dmytro and Denis, gaunt and haunted, returning from 130 days of combat, resonated around the world. Dmytro, identifying himself only by his first name, expressed a surprising sense of pride. He was humbled by the outpouring of support from friends and strangers alike, acknowledging their words of encouragement.
He recounted a somewhat accidental path to the front lines – a morning trip to a shop interrupted by a recruitment team. Initially hoping for a role in the K2 Battalion, he was assigned to the 93rd, a fate he now embraces wholeheartedly. “I like fighting,” he stated simply, with no regret for his chosen path.
His motivation stems from family – a 14-year-old brother pursuing a career in acting, a sister, a mother, and a father. He fights to protect their lives, to shield them from the horrors unfolding around him. Their well-being is the driving force behind his unwavering commitment.
The reality of the front is relentless. Russian forces have reduced entire neighborhoods to rubble, employing “kamikaze drones” to hunt for targets. Fresh graves dot the landscape, a grim testament to the constant threat of attack. Yet, the 93rd Brigade continues to hold the line around Kostyantynivka, a city of just 4,300 residents.
Dmytro understands the weight of their responsibility. He acknowledges the fatigue and the desire for respite, but insists that surrender is not an option. “If this is the fate we’ve been given, then we have to do it,” he said, his voice echoing with quiet determination. He plans to return to duty after a brief leave, even scheduling a dental appointment as his only personal concern.
