Border guard Yaroslav from the 7th Carpathian Border Detachment has been through the hottest sectors of the front, has been wounded twice, and now continues his service as an unmanned aerial vehicle operator on the state border.
Yaroslav comes from Ivano-Frankivsk region. After his compulsory military service, he worked for more than two decades as a process operator at a factory. In March 2022, he voluntarily reported to the military enlistment office and, on the very first night at his new deployment location, came under a massive missile strike – that was how his combat path began.
At first, the serviceman was stationed in Lviv region, and later, as part of the 3rd Border Detachment, he was deployed to Luhansk region. After rotation, he served for some time in the area of responsibility of the Chop Border Detachment, and then on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.
The hardest stage for him was Bakhmut. From January to April 2023, the border guard carried out combat missions directly in the city, where he was wounded during a mortar attack. After treatment and recovery, Yaroslav underwent intensive training in the United Kingdom and returned to service on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.
According to the serviceman, the war has radically changed the nature of combat. In January 2024, he and his comrades went to Donetsk region, where unmanned systems already dominated. If previously the main threat had come from tanks and artillery, now the battlefield was largely controlled by FPV drones and Mavics. During one of the sorties, an enemy drone struck the unit’s position, and Yaroslav sustained leg wounds. His comrades evacuated him, after which a long period of treatment and rehabilitation began.
Once recovered, the border guard transferred closer to home. In August 2024, he continued his service at the Krakivets Border Guard Service Department. There, Yaroslav began to master aerial reconnaissance. At first, working with drones seemed difficult, but training and the support of experienced instructors helped him quickly get to grips with his new specialism.
In October 2025, the serviceman officially became a UAV operator. The drone has now become his main tool of service: instead of long foot patrols through difficult terrain, he can, in just a few flights, survey a significant stretch of the state border, which increases the speed and accuracy of his work and reduces risks for personnel.
In his free time, Yaroslav does gardening and grows several varieties of grapes. This hobby helps him regain his strength and find inner peace after demanding shifts.
Despite his wounds and the battles he has been through, the border guard remains on duty. As long as his health allows, he aims to pass on his combat and technical experience to younger servicemen and to work for victory. After the war ends, he dreams of gathering his family and friends around one table and calmly tending his vineyard.
Today, the 7th Carpathian Border Detachment is developing around ten areas of unmanned aviation. Modern technologies, professional training and well-coordinated teamwork strengthen the protection of the state border every day. The Department for the Organisation of Aerial Reconnaissance and Countering Unmanned Aerial Vehicles is building a team of specialists who are ready to master unmanned systems and contribute to the defence of Ukraine.