“The soldier’s story was made public on January 20 on the brigade’s website. “Ruins, smoke, constant sounds of explosions – Russian artillery, mortars, tanks were working on us. Sometimes it came to close combat. Enemy…”, — write on: armyinform.com.ua
Read for: 2 min. January 20, 2025, 20:37
Oleg Gerva with the call sign “Hera” is the commander of the mortar battery of the 67th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who ten years ago heroically held the defense of Donetsk Airport (DAP). He was one of those who, together with his comrades, withstood endless artillery fire, mortar attacks and tank attacks. The battles for the airport became a symbol of the courage and indomitability of the Ukrainian military. The soldier’s story was made public on January 20 on the brigade’s website.
“Ruins, smoke, constant sounds of explosions – Russian artillery, mortars, tanks were working on us. Sometimes it came to close combat. The enemy tried to destroy everything that was still intact. But we didn’t give up,” recalls Oleg, talking about those difficult days.
In 2014, after mobilization, Oleg returned from earning money abroad, where he worked as a welder at large infrastructure facilities. When the war began, he could not stay away and went to the Military Commissariat, where after a short training he was assigned to the 95th Airmobile Brigade, and later to the 90th Separate Airmobile Battalion.
From the first days of his stay at the Donetsk airport, Oleg saw it destroyed and covered with smoke, as if from a picture of the apocalypse. Defense of the airport area became more and more difficult: lack of ammunition, food, water and constant cold. “The hardest thing was when we lost our brothers. It is the greatest pain when you realize that they no longer have a chance to survive,” shares the memories of “Hera”.
Oleg’s main task was to provide defense from the control tower, where the enemy repeatedly tried to break through. This point was key to controlling the airport. Then he not only led the defense, but also gave numerous commands, adjusting the fire of the mortar battery and destroying the enemy.
Oleg does not forget his brothers who showed incredible courage during the defense of the airport. He mentions Ihor Branovytsky, who was captured while trying to help his seriously wounded comrades, and who was tortured for it. “He became a Hero of Ukraine posthumously,” says Oleg.
Other heroes from DAP, such as Anatoly “Spartanets” Sviryd and Ruslan “Baghdad” Borovyk, had a great influence on Oleg. The “Spartan” was known for his courage and motivation for his brothers, and Ruslan, having released a photo book about the defense of DAP, became a symbol of struggle and resilience.
“We have not surrendered the airport. Every meter of this territory cost the enemy dozens of their lives. We showed that even in the most difficult conditions it is possible to remain invincible,” Oleg is confident.
In the ten years that have passed since those events, Oleg has not stopped at what he has achieved. Despite the injury, disability and long years of rehabilitation after several operations, he returned to service. Today, he is the commander of a mortar battery unit and continues to destroy the enemy in the Kursk direction.
“I want to say to those who are struggling right now: don’t give up. We, the guys from DAP, held the defense when it seemed that we had no strength left. But we persevered. Your fortitude is your most powerful weapon,” adds the unit commander, talking about the continuous struggle for Ukraine.
As reported by ArmiyaInform, Denys Gubernator, a former football player, after being wounded in the Donbass, decided to go into self-defense in order to return home and rest. After a year of rehabilitation and struggle with his own emotions, he realized that he could not leave his brothers at the front. Later, he joined “Charter”, where his father works.
