Soldier Oleksandr, call sign DOBA

My name is Oleksandr, call sign DOBA. I started my military career back in 1990 in the 95th Airmobile Brigade when I was called up for military service. Upon completion of service, I immediately signed a contract with the same unit and took part in a NATO peacekeeping mission in Yugoslavia.

There was a break in military service for several years, and in 2015 I was called up for service. I served in the Luhansk region. After demobilisation, I signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine twice: in 2017-2018, I served in the Luhansk region, and in 2019-2020, I took part in the Joint Forces Operation in the Donetsk sector.
 

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, I came to the military enlistment office and was immediately recruited for service, because after my release I was in the main reserve of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

In May 2023, while performing a combat mission in the Kharkiv region, I had a bad fall. Of course, I didn't pay attention to it, because this often happens in combat. Unfortunately, the bruise was constantly reminding me of itself, the pain did not just go away, it was only getting worse. My arm was turning blue.

At the end of June, I was forced to seek medical help. After the examination, it turned out that I had a nonunion fracture of the left shoulder bone with post-traumatic deformation of the joint surfaces. The only solution to the problem is immediate arthroplasty of the shoulder joint. 

I understand that the fall was the last drop, whereas the main reason was excessive loads that led to this condition of the joint.

Now I constantly wear a supportive bandage to immobilise my arm as much as possible and ease the pain. I continue my military service, and believe in our Victory. I dream of a peaceful civilian life, marriage and a settled life without pain.