A Ukrainian soldier whose battle-worn face became a symbol of the war's brutality has given a chilling first-hand account of being buried alive during a relentless Russian bombardment.
The Attack That Buried Him Alive
Dmytro, a 30-year-old soldier with the callsign 'K2', was defending the embattled city of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region alongside his comrade Denis, callsign 'Bars'. Their unit, the 93rd 'Kholodnyi Yar' Separate Mechanized Brigade, had just repelled a ground assault, eliminating seven enemy soldiers. However, their position was spotted by a Russian drone.
"The most terrible thing was when our house was 'dismantled'," Dmytro recounted. "The enemy drone saw it, and the next day they started demolishing our house." For 26 days before their scheduled rotation, Russian forces pounded their shelter with FPV drones and mortars.
The two soldiers used separate shelters at exit points. A massive blast then destroyed Dmytro's position, knocking him unconscious and trapping him under the wreckage. "I thought I would stay there forever underground," he said.
A Grisly Survival and Discovery
Regaining consciousness in the pitch black, Dmytro managed to brace himself into a foetal position, creating a small cavity. He then began the agonising process of digging himself out with a knife and his bare hands over several hours.
As he clawed his way towards freedom, a horrific stench filled the air. "It turned out that an enemy corpse was hanging above me — the first enemy who had come into our house," he described. The body, held up by tree roots and with its face missing, was dripping onto him. "A very unpleasant image stayed in my mind," he added.
The 93rd Brigade: Ukraine's 'Cyborg' Defenders
The 93rd Brigade is one of Ukraine's most experienced and distinguished units, with a history dating back to the start of Russian aggression in 2014. Its soldiers were famously among the 'cyborgs' who defended Donetsk airport for 244 days. The brigade has been instrumental in the dogged defence of Kostyantynivka, a city of 4,300 residents that has seen entire neighbourhoods destroyed by Russian attacks.
In a stark contrast to tactics often attributed to Russian forces, the brigade's commander, Shamil Krutkov, has stated: "For us, the life of every individual is of the utmost value." The unit has even deployed ground robots equipped with machine guns to engage Russian troops at close range.
Enduring 130 Days on the Frontline
Even after his narrow escape, Dmytro and Bars remained at their post. For the next 26 days, Dmytro stayed hidden in a dugout, only able to sit or lie down, while his comrade fetched supplies. The confinement caused his leg muscles to atrophy. "Then I had to cover a 10-kilometre route during the withdrawal from the position," he said. "By then I could barely drag my legs."
In total, the pair spent 130 continuous days on the frontline before their rotation. Their haunting, exhausted stares were captured in now-iconic photographs taken by brigade photographer Iryna Rybakova as they finally returned from the front last week.
Reflecting on the images that flashed around the world, Dmytro said: "I'm proud of myself, to be honest. I'm pleased that people like it, it's cool. Friends write, 'Wow, you are a warrior, we are proud of you.'"
Originally from Kryvyi Rih, Dmytro was enlisted after being approached by recruitment officers at a shop. He is now on leave with his family, planning only a dentist appointment, and intends to return to the fight. "My family motivates me," he explained, speaking of his parents, sister, and 14-year-old brother. "So that they can live and not see this horror."
He admits to liking fighting and does not regret his service, stating a grim determination shared by many: "If everyone says they don't want to or that they're tired, we'll lose very quickly. If this is the fate we've been given, then we have to do it."
