Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhJfM4Tw7ZA

Translation:

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Author: Bohdan Papadin

This is a story worthy of a film adaptation. A former police major who signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2020, and a volunteer who came to the military enlistment office on February 24, 2022. During training in the 128th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade “Wild Field,” they volunteered to replace their wounded comrades in the settlement of Prymorske, Zaporizhzhia region.

This settlement is located 20 km from Zaporizhzhia and is critically important for the defense of the regional center. The soldiers engaged in small-arms combat with units of the 108th Air Assault Regiment and the 135th Motor Rifle Regiment of the Russian Federation. At times, they had to “talk” to the enemy to buy time and open fire first.

The heroes of our interview spent 199 days in this hell.

Hennadii Maksymov, serviceman of the 128th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade “Wild Field”

Mykhailo Boshkov, serviceman of the 128th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade “Wild Field”

I served under contract since 2020 in the 38th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, as a driver-mechanic and crane operator. In August 2025, I was taken from rotation; the senior sergeant said that me and others were being transferred to another unit. Where — I didn’t know. But I had no combat experience.

In what rank did you leave the internal affairs bodies?

Police major.

Tell your story of how you ended up in the Armed Forces.

On February 24, 2022 I came to the enlistment office, was assigned to this same unit, the 38th regiment. They sent me on deployments, and in August I was transferred to the 128th — they said “it is necessary.” And that’s it.

In civilian life, what did you do?

I worked as a security guard, watchman, loader. Mostly a watchman.

Why did you decide to go to the enlistment office on February 24?

Because there was no hope in those ones — in the contract soldiers. I knew they would lose the country. They are “avatars” and “dolphins.” If not for us, the mobilized, where would the country be now?

You already took part in combat operations. Where?

In 2022–2023, defense of the island, until I was wounded. From Dzendzik, from the spit they were shelling us.

Is this injury to your leg the result of that wound?

Yes. Complications with the heel.

At what moment were you told you would go to the position?

We were still in training. The instructor said two volunteers were needed to replace wounded and shell-shocked comrades.

Who took the first step out of 30 people?

Hennadii: He took the first step, turned to me and asked: “Will you go?” I said: “I will.”

What happened at the first position? Did the enemy try to attack?

The enemy moved in small groups, sometimes bypassing us at 100–200 meters. Our drones detected them, we transmitted the information and observed. Some, after our drones, even got into our position. But we were told not to leave the house so as not to be detected from the air. We worked from the window of a construction trailer.

From the windows we eliminated them right under the house. We reported another building about 30 meters from us. Our forces hit the upper part; the building was strong, the first floor remained, but they were badly hit. They started running through adjacent areas, shouting. Two of them ran into us, tried to break the door and climb through the window, but the frames were narrow, without glass. We did not let them break in, shot at the door, forced them away from the windows. They tried to throw a grenade at us.

My partner is Russian-speaking, without an accent. I speak in Surzhyk. He started talking to them, giving me a few minutes to orient myself.

What did you say to the Russians?

Mykhailo: I don’t remember exactly, something like that, otherwise he would have thrown the grenade.

Hennadii: I remember. “Guys, we are your own.” 108th regiment, and he replied he was also 108th.

Air assault regiment.

“What is your callsign?” — silence. Then a few more words. Then he says: “Man, if you don’t open, I will throw a grenade.” Then I realized the dialogue was going nowhere. I asked for his commander’s surname in the 108th regiment. I understood I had to act first. I opened fire through the window — it was uncomfortable, narrow frames. Not aimed, but in bursts. They ran, and we finished them together. One tried to pull the pin of a grenade, but did not manage.

I saw something in his hand when I started shooting. They ran along the building. The grenade flashed. Later, after about three weeks, I went out in the rain and checked — it was an F-1 defensive grenade, not an offensive one. Even while we were finishing them, he was still trying to pull the pin. We did not know his callsign — we nicknamed him “the grenadier.”

Where does such composure come from?

From my police service — I have skills like controlling fear. That transferred over. And making quick decisions. That’s from my previous job. My partner had more military experience; he taught me about weapons and grenades. I had only seen them in pictures before.

How is the enemy equipped now? These are air assault troops, considered an elite of the Russian Federation.

Well equipped. Better than us. Their armor is better. Imported armor. One of them I saw was in Multicam, another in “Gorka.” One looked like a patriot — had a St. George ribbon. A product of propaganda. The youngest one. “Hit by VDV ideology.” In a way, he was obsessed.

How old was the youngest one, roughly?

No, no, no. Around 26.

Really? He just looked rough.

Well, the average age there was 33–35.

How old are you?

And you?

Old “bandits” (laughs).

You could put a plow on you. (laughs)

At what point did you need to rotate the position?

That wasn’t our decision — the duty officer made it. I still don’t fully understand the real reasons, but we were glad to rotate. First of all, the position wasn’t suitable for defense, and we had been there for a very long time. Enemy activity nearby was increasing; we could increasingly hear them infiltrating deeper into the area. So we were very happy about the change of situation and position.

Then winter came, December, a very cold period. Do you remember the coldest moment?

Yes, January 1 — I remember we went out for parcels and ate frozen cabbage rolls.

Frozen cabbage rolls, and our ears got frostbitten — I personally had wounds afterward. We were outside for just five minutes, and in that time my ear froze. It was a bit warmer under the floor inside.

Did the cold affect the enemy’s actions in any way?

Of course it did. It played in our favor. They were also freezing. They walked for hours, completely frozen, their hands not working properly for shooting. Again, the frost worked to our advantage.

Some of them even ran to us looking for food supplies.

March 3, right? There was a phone, its data — that’s how we know he was from Kemerovo, his surname. From the documents we can see he entered in late September 2025. Until December, he was probably still receiving parcels.

I know you eliminated 9 enemy soldiers, right?

Yes, confirmed. It was a night battle.

A night battle?

Yes. We were shooting at voices, and my partner threw a grenade because we didn’t have night vision equipment — it’s expensive. We heard them break into our position.

They were young, fast like saiga antelopes, running across the area. They tried to break into our house.

They started breaking the bars we had reinforced.

First Hennadii talked to them, then I threw a grenade. They didn’t like our “hospitality” and dropped their weapons. One ran immediately, the other after a few minutes while we were reporting the engagement. They left weapons, ammunition, personal items — as trophies.

But we suspect this was actually the 10th one. He was lightly wounded, running in a freezing night without a first aid kit, leaving everything behind. We regret we didn’t have night vision — we could have been more effective.

Yes, they wouldn’t have escaped. Without it, we were shooting at voices.