Lubomyr Mikalo, known by his call sign “Batya”, has been serving since the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion. A native of Khmelnytskyi region, he has fought in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions. For a year and a half, he served alongside his own son, sharing the same trench and battlefield.
🪖 The Beginning: A Family Joins the Front
When the war began in 2022, Lubomyr was working as a technician in Starokostiantyniv. Without hesitation, he joined the Armed Forces together with his son, brother, and brother-in-law.
“My son is proud of me. I just take it as it is,” he says with modesty.
🪖 Frontline Deployments
His early missions were in Bilohorivka. Later he fought near Lyman, in Kharkiv and Sumy regions, eventually returning to Sumy — the site of his most heroic episode: 42 days encircled by Russian forces.
🔥 42 Days Surrounded: The “Batya” Position
In late May 2025, Lubomyr’s unit was assigned to the village of Okssiivka in Sumy region. Soon after, it became clear they were surrounded.
🛡️ Survival Timeline:
- May 30 — Under cover of night, five soldiers moved toward a new position. Enemy fire erupted from the rear; the planned shelter was already burning. They relocated to a basement in the southern part of the village.
- Intel and Stealth — Using captured enemy phones, they learned troop routes. Hiding in the bushes, they silently waited and ambushed passing groups.
- Daily Skirmishes — Nearly every day, they engaged the enemy, killing 1–2 soldiers using single shots or grenades disguised as drone drops.
- Supplies in Isolation — Initially relying on personal reserves, later they received drone deliveries. Often, they used supplies taken from eliminated enemies.
“We joked it was the ‘Russian Glovo delivery,’” smiles Lubomyr. - Body in the Basement — To avoid detection, they kept the body of a neutralized enemy soldier with them for 41 days.
💥 Final Clash and Escape
On day 40, the enemy approached from the left. A firefight erupted, and their position was discovered. Russian FPV drones and incendiary devices targeted the basement.
Despite injuries and pressure, the team held out another day, then escaped on the 42nd night, as the enemy believed them already dead.
🩺 Casualties and Aftermath
Lubomyr suffered a broken rib, concussions, and torn eardrums but remained until the end. Out of the original five soldiers, only two survived.
During the 42 days, “Batya” personally eliminated an estimated 25–30 enemies.