Born in Donetsk, YEVHEN TIURIN joined the National Guard of Ukraine in 2017. He served in the east and took part in the defense of Kyiv during the full-scale invasion. Yevhen shares that reconnaissance has always fascinated him because of its crucial role in warfare. Following his injury, he continues to actively engage in sports, seeing it as an opportunity to explore new possibilities.
About an incident that changed the character. I used to compete in cycling, both road and off-road races. Once, we were heading to a competition in Marinka, and another cyclist and I performed really well. On the way back, we were exhausted. I was riding at the back of the group when a strong gust of wind pushed our column sideways. My bike’s wheel suddenly twisted, and a spoke popped out. As I stopped to check the issue, a car hit me from behind.
Fueled by adrenaline, I didn’t fully grasp what had occurred—I got back on my bike and kept going. It wasn’t until later that I started feeling unwell. At the hospital, they found I had a concussion.
Over time, I realized that I had lost consciousness for a few seconds during the accident. I don’t even remember the moment I regained awareness.
Before this incident, I was calm and more of a listener. People often confided in me, and I would rarely give advice, thinking my input wasn’t necessary. After the accident, I became more active and confident. I started expressing my thoughts more openly, and learned to stand my ground.
About a life rule. I tend to make decisions quickly. Life has shown me that swift decisions often turn out to be the right ones for me. I consider myself quite resilient under stress. While I might have moments of frustration, I’m skilled at navigating challenges and finding clear, practical solutions. If there’s something I don’t understand, I don’t hesitate to reach out to others who can help me figure it out.
One important lesson I learned during my service is that there’s no shame in asking for advice, even from someone junior, if they have more expertise in a particular area.
I’ll admit, I’m a bit lazy, which motivates me to automate processes as much as possible in my work. My service also gave me a deep understanding of people—teaching me the importance of adapting my approach to suit each individual I interact with.
About life in Donetsk. In 2014, I completed my bachelor’s degree and began studying for my master’s. At the time, I couldn’t have imagined the challenges that came with the occupation of my city. When it became clear that the occupation was going to last, I began exploring ways to transfer to another university where I could receive a proper education and a valid diploma, rather than the ones being issued in the so-called “DPR.”
Unfortunately, the process dragged on for a long time due to numerous complications with leaving the region. I initially planned to relocate to Kramatorsk, but the dormitories there were full, and other issues came up, which ultimately led me to stay home and complete my master’s degree. I only had a few months left.
There was a period when I tried to build a life for myself in Kyiv but I faced a lot of distrust and prejudice as an internally displaced person from Donbas. People were often skeptical of us, and some were outright hostile. I was even accused—absurdly, as a student—of somehow being personally responsible for preventing the Ukrainian army from liberating Donetsk. Many people formed their opinions based on TV or isolated incidents, which fueled a lot of bias against all displaced people.
During that time, I worked at a furniture factory and in a call center. But when I realized I couldn’t find stable, decent work, I decided to enlist under contract in 2017.
About military service. I began my military career as a gunner but constantly sought to grow and improve, eventually earning the position of tank commander. I served as a tanker for about four years before transitioning to reconnaissance. A year before the full-scale invasion, I began training intensively with my team, gaining experience, learning new skills, and diving deeply into this field. My focus was on executing tasks effectively, setting priorities, and consistently performing at my best.
For instance, as a tanker, my understanding of topography wasn’t as critical, but in reconnaissance, it became essential. Thankfully, the guys I worked with were incredibly supportive, explaining things in a clear and accessible way. Physical fitness also played a major role—I had to stay in shape because the job required a lot of walking, running, and overall endurance.
In reconnaissance, I truly felt like I was in the right place. I was eager to serve and grow, and I became passionate about the work of sabotage groups. It’s a role that is unseen but incredibly important —reducing enemy capabilities, preventing their advance to our positions, disabling equipment, or destroying ammunition. It’s an intense, high-stakes job that combines strategy and adrenaline, and that’s what makes it so fulfilling for me.
About the injury. In June 2022, during a combat mission in Popasna, I was injured. The next day, I called my mother from a hospital in Chasiv Yar, borrowing a nurse’s phone. I told her I was fine, just had a small issue. I was then transferred to Dnipro. The ambulance driver raced through Dnipro at full speed, and as the painkillers wore off, I felt every bump along the way. Neither in Chasiv Yar nor in Dnipro was my leg amputated; they only cleaned the tissues. They even said they managed to save the leg. But they didn’t notice the bullet in it. Later, I was transferred to Lviv, and the journey was difficult.
They had to move me on flexible stretchers, and the Ilizarov apparatus on my leg got caught, causing a blood vessel to rupture and a new hemorrhage. They had to apply the tourniquet again, which made me feel a lot better. But after that, my temperature rose, and my blood vessels kept rupturing—it wasn’t getting easier at all. After a week, the doctors said that if my condition didn’t improve, they would have to amputate my leg. Another hemorrhage opened up. In the end, the decision was made to amputate the leg.
At first, I thought, “Finally, this leg won’t bother me anymore.” Then the anaesthesiologist and doctors came to me, reassuring me that everything would be fine. I felt so light, with no pain, the painkillers worked, and I was joking around.
But the next day, the situation changed. Everything came back: the fever, the inflammation, and no one understood what was happening. It turned out that the bullet had passed through my thigh, not reaching the bones, and got stuck on the outer side. For some reason, it wasn’t detected immediately.
It took about ten days for me to stabilize. Then the phantom pain started: my heel “burned,” I felt like I could wiggle my toes, and it itched under my knee. I spoke with other guys who had amputations, and they advised me to work through the phantom pains by talking to myself and explaining that the leg was gone, so there was nothing to hurt. I would sit on the bed and just look, trying to help my brain adapt and understand that the leg was no longer there. After I got my first prosthesis, the phantom pains started to fade.
Throughout all this, my parents and my girlfriend supported me—she was the anaesthesiologist-nurse at the hospital. She would visit me at the rehabilitation center, and I was so happy to see her. It amazed me that, even in this state, without a leg, she still liked me. That gave me the motivation to get back on my feet quickly and walk well. She eventually became my wife, and now we have a one-year-old daughter.
About the changes after the war. The war changes everyone, and it changes you definitively. I’m eager to return because I recognize that the experience I’ve gained is crucial, and I now have a greater desire to contribute even more to our country’s defense.
About a new perspective on life. I was deeply upset when I realized that I wouldn’t be able to return to my service, that I wouldn’t be able to fully perform my duties, or run anymore. However, I later found out that there are guys in the army who have high-level amputations and still serve.
After getting married, my wife convinced me to move to Lviv, with the condition that we find a position where I could be transferred. Based on my skills and knowledge, I understand which positions I could apply for.
On Sports. I’m really interested in exploring new activities for myself. It keeps the fire alive in me. Also, when I discover new directions, I can guide others. It’s important to me to help, so that people don’t feel stuck.
Translated by Green Forest English School