Journalist from Mykolaiv became a commander in the terrorist defense

In Mykolaiv, military journalist Volodymyr Lysiuk decided to defend Ukraine and became the commander of the rifle division of the 123rd terrorist defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the regional department of the Territorial Defense Forces "South" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, his path to the army began in 2014, when, due to health problems, he was unable to join the Armed Forces. Then Volodymyr picked up a camera and worked as a war correspondent, having 20 years of experience in television.

On February 24, 2022, the day Mykolaiv came under rocket attacks, Volodymyr first checked on his friend who served in tactical aviation. After he found out that his loved ones were safe, Volodymyr decided to complete all his affairs and showed up at the military registration and enlistment office the next day. Although he was not accepted at first, he realized that he was ready to serve and soon contacted his friends from the territorial defense. That's how he became a commander of the rifle squad of the 123rd terrorist defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Volodymyr took an active part in the defense of Mykolaiv region, and after the liberation of Kherson, his brigade took up positions on the right bank of the Dnipro. After some time, he was given the opportunity to try his hand at civil-military cooperation, which he accepted, ready for new challenges.

In his new position, Volodymyr dealt with the problems of the civilian population in the combat zone and supported the fulfillment of the unit's tasks. His work required constant communication with local residents, organizing evacuations and humanitarian aid in areas that continued to suffer from enemy shelling. He also noted that some of the population in the de-occupied territories still supported the invaders, and when he received such information, he passed it on to the relevant authorities.

Volodymyr realizes that rebuilding the country after the war will require the efforts of all Ukrainians and hopes for a quick victory. He admits that his son is also undergoing a medical examination and will soon join the army. This adds to his motivation, as he wants to return peaceful skies to Ukraine and is ready to stay in the army until victory.

Ірина Глухова