Soldier Roman Shuliak, call sign MONGOL

I come from a village in the Chernihiv region. After graduating from the Kyiv Professional Lyceum of Water Transport, I worked as a truck driver. I got married and have two children - a son and a daughter. 

The full scale war broke into my life when I was at home preparing for a delivery to Finland - the truck was already loaded and ready to go. Early in the morning of the 24th of February 2022, I received a call from my boss, ordering me to go to the base immediately. This call became the dividing point between peaceful life and war. 

It was about five in the morning, maybe half past six. When I started to drive along the road, I saw our tanks moving towards the border with Belarus and heard explosions. I realised then that a real scaled war had started and decided that I would definitely join the Ukrainian Defence Forces. 

I managed to fulfil this aspiration only a month later - I was being refused for a lengthy period of time, although I was going to the military recruitment centre almost every day for several weeks. They explained that they only accept those who have already served and participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and Joint Forces Operation. But I kept insisting, and eventually, after a month, I succeeded. Then came the training.

As early as in June 2022, I began defending Ukraine in the East of Ukraine. That's when I gained my first combat experience. We had to fight the enemy in close quarters - we were barely 10-15 metres away from the invaders. We saw them and they saw us. We could shout at the enemy, even see their faces. 

The hot summer of 2022 was a time of baptism of fire for us. The battles in Pisky, Spartak, Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk hardened us and, despite the pain of losing our comrades, convinced us that the enemy is not omnipotent, they can be destroyed and defeated. 

On the 21st of January 2024, my brothers in arms were taken prisoners at the positions near Klishchiyivka, and we were tasked with storming the enemy's positions. From the 21st to 22nd of January, my group and I went on a combat mission. The group was divided into several subgroups to avoid overcrowding. As we approached the place of the mission, the enemy began to "cover" us with everything they could and what not, as a result of which the group members received injuries and contusions of varying severity. Thank God, we were able to evacuate everyone and everyone survived, but with different consequences. 

It was then that I sustained an injury that provoked a further problem with my hip joint. After the examination, the doctors made an unequivocal verdict - total hip replacement.

Doctors advise to install a cementless implant manufactured by Mathys Ltd. (Switzerland).

This is the only thing that can help me get rid of the severe pain and return to an active life. That is why I am seeking help in purchasing the implant.

 

In June 2024, Roman underwent a successful hip replacement operation. The defender is currently undergoing rehabilitation after endoprosthesis.

Soon, MONGOL will return to its unit to perform combat missions to protect the Motherland.

Sincere thanks to everyone involved in fundraising for the implant. 

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED:: UAH 85,000