Story Time!! Gather in!!
Today I share the story of the Commander of @GimliDivision. This is a translated version of what was published in October 2024 by 117 Heavy Mechanized Brigade.
A Hero’s Story:
On the eve of the full-scale invasion, Serhii was working abroad as a long-haul truck driver. He had traveled all over Europe. His career was going very successfully. A path was open for him and his family to move to Canada, but he chose the path of a warrior. Serhii met the beginning of the full-scale war in France.
•“My wife called me — my wife lives in Chernihiv. She called around three or four in the morning. At that time, I was in France. She said the war had started. I said, ‘How can it have started?!’ She said, ‘It has — we’re being shelled.’ I made my decision.
At the beginning there were a lot of guys I knew very well, and they knew me. When I said I was going to Ukraine, about 15 or 20 men agreed to go with me. But when, on the third day, the media reported that the enemy had advanced from Sumy all the way to Kyiv, most of the drivers — already 40–50 years old — hesitated.
I told my boss I was leaving. No one went with me, even though everyone had planned to. The boss called me into his office and said, ‘Do you understand that your behavior could ruin my business right now?’ I said, ‘Do you understand that my family is there? My wife is there, my daughter is there, my parents are there, all my relatives are there.’”…/2 🧵
Today I share the story of the Commander of @GimliDivision. This is a translated version of what was published in October 2024 by 117 Heavy Mechanized Brigade.
A Hero’s Story:
On the eve of the full-scale invasion, Serhii was working abroad as a long-haul truck driver. He had traveled all over Europe. His career was going very successfully. A path was open for him and his family to move to Canada, but he chose the path of a warrior. Serhii met the beginning of the full-scale war in France.
•“My wife called me — my wife lives in Chernihiv. She called around three or four in the morning. At that time, I was in France. She said the war had started. I said, ‘How can it have started?!’ She said, ‘It has — we’re being shelled.’ I made my decision.
At the beginning there were a lot of guys I knew very well, and they knew me. When I said I was going to Ukraine, about 15 or 20 men agreed to go with me. But when, on the third day, the media reported that the enemy had advanced from Sumy all the way to Kyiv, most of the drivers — already 40–50 years old — hesitated.
I told my boss I was leaving. No one went with me, even though everyone had planned to. The boss called me into his office and said, ‘Do you understand that your behavior could ruin my business right now?’ I said, ‘Do you understand that my family is there? My wife is there, my daughter is there, my parents are there, all my relatives are there.’”…/2 🧵
“We could have taken the family to Poland, but I understood what the attitude might be like, and I knew it would be difficult. My daughter asked my wife, ‘Why isn’t Serhii coming?’ She said, ‘He is coming! You understand, it’s a long way to travel.’
The main reason I returned to Ukraine was what I felt inside. There was an inner feeling that I wouldn’t be able to keep living in Europe knowing I had left my parents, my wife, my family behind. No one supported me returning — except my wife. My parents said, ‘They’ll kill you! Stay there. You’ll be shot. They won’t let you through.’”
An offer from his employer to move his family to Poland did not change Serhii’s decision to return to Ukraine. Fellow countrymen and local Poles provided humanitarian aid. Some equipment had to be purchased in stores.
“The Poles treated this situation very well. They supported Ukraine at the beginning.”
The road home to the Chernihiv region across all of Ukraine was not easy.
“That’s where I saw the first strikes. Houses were destroyed. Armored vehicles were standing and moving around, and the guys were already there, ready — with rifles, machine guns, body armor. I made it. Everything was fine. But when I finally arrived to my family, home, to my parents — I realized what horror was happening in the city itself.” …/3
The main reason I returned to Ukraine was what I felt inside. There was an inner feeling that I wouldn’t be able to keep living in Europe knowing I had left my parents, my wife, my family behind. No one supported me returning — except my wife. My parents said, ‘They’ll kill you! Stay there. You’ll be shot. They won’t let you through.’”
An offer from his employer to move his family to Poland did not change Serhii’s decision to return to Ukraine. Fellow countrymen and local Poles provided humanitarian aid. Some equipment had to be purchased in stores.
“The Poles treated this situation very well. They supported Ukraine at the beginning.”
The road home to the Chernihiv region across all of Ukraine was not easy.
“That’s where I saw the first strikes. Houses were destroyed. Armored vehicles were standing and moving around, and the guys were already there, ready — with rifles, machine guns, body armor. I made it. Everything was fine. But when I finally arrived to my family, home, to my parents — I realized what horror was happening in the city itself.” …/3
As for what came next, a friend of Serhii’s from the police suggested he contact the administration of the city of Nizhyn. As a result, he began transporting humanitarian goods between regions at a time when other drivers refused to get behind the wheel.
During this period, “Gimli” tried to help the military in any way he could. Around then he met an old friend who was already serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. That became the beginning of a new stage in Serhii’s life.
“A friend called and asked if I was home. He asked if I had returned or if I hadn’t left yet. I said I had returned. He said, ‘Good man. We’re coming to you.’ I said, ‘To who — to me?’ He said, ‘We mobilized добровільно (as volunteers), we’re coming to your city.’
The 30th Separate Rifle Battalion was being formed. Many were from Chernihiv region, many from Sumy region. I delivered humanitarian aid to them while they were stationed outside the city, and then they moved into Sumy region.
The first time I came to them, I already understood I would probably join them. The second time I came — it was the final decision. I just didn’t know how to tell my wife. Right before leaving, I told her I had made the decision: I would go serve with Andriy — my brother-in-arms — in Sumy region.” …/4
During this period, “Gimli” tried to help the military in any way he could. Around then he met an old friend who was already serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. That became the beginning of a new stage in Serhii’s life.
“A friend called and asked if I was home. He asked if I had returned or if I hadn’t left yet. I said I had returned. He said, ‘Good man. We’re coming to you.’ I said, ‘To who — to me?’ He said, ‘We mobilized добровільно (as volunteers), we’re coming to your city.’
The 30th Separate Rifle Battalion was being formed. Many were from Chernihiv region, many from Sumy region. I delivered humanitarian aid to them while they were stationed outside the city, and then they moved into Sumy region.
The first time I came to them, I already understood I would probably join them. The second time I came — it was the final decision. I just didn’t know how to tell my wife. Right before leaving, I told her I had made the decision: I would go serve with Andriy — my brother-in-arms — in Sumy region.” …/4
Later, “Gimli” served in Sumy region as part of the 30th Separate Rifle Battalion. At the end of 2022, the unit was disbanded, and the personnel were transferred into the 117th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
“We existed for eight months, and then we were transferred here. Our group — 6 or 7 men — became anti-tank troops. We trained at the range separately from other units.
We had a senior sergeant who created this unit. He was a motivation machine! For the first three months, my parents didn’t know I was in Zaporizhzhia. Only my wife knew. But they suspected something.
The first time we went out, we didn’t understand anything. Half the day we carried that ‘Stugna’ (anti-tank system). It was hard to establish coordination with anyone, to find anyone on the battlefield. I was the squad leader.” …/5
“We existed for eight months, and then we were transferred here. Our group — 6 or 7 men — became anti-tank troops. We trained at the range separately from other units.
We had a senior sergeant who created this unit. He was a motivation machine! For the first three months, my parents didn’t know I was in Zaporizhzhia. Only my wife knew. But they suspected something.
The first time we went out, we didn’t understand anything. Half the day we carried that ‘Stugna’ (anti-tank system). It was hard to establish coordination with anyone, to find anyone on the battlefield. I was the squad leader.” …/5
Then came heavy battles. The men’s morale was at the limit.
“I told the guys we had to complete the mission. It started raining, we were all soaked, and a decision was made: ‘Whoever is ready to keep going — gather your thoughts and we move to the position!’ I walked in front, they followed behind me.
No one slept at night, because when the shelling started, sleeping was impossible. We tried to dig at night. In the morning you look — and you’ve dug almost nothing.
That same day we destroyed a tank. The two of us — me and the senior sergeant of the second platoon — took a Kornet. We moved to the height, set it up, and prepared to fire. That first shot — it was a hit. The tank caught fire.”
The unit lived through many moments: injuries, evacuation on a damaged motorcycle from a neighboring unit. Some still continue combat work on the front line. …/6
“I told the guys we had to complete the mission. It started raining, we were all soaked, and a decision was made: ‘Whoever is ready to keep going — gather your thoughts and we move to the position!’ I walked in front, they followed behind me.
No one slept at night, because when the shelling started, sleeping was impossible. We tried to dig at night. In the morning you look — and you’ve dug almost nothing.
That same day we destroyed a tank. The two of us — me and the senior sergeant of the second platoon — took a Kornet. We moved to the height, set it up, and prepared to fire. That first shot — it was a hit. The tank caught fire.”
The unit lived through many moments: injuries, evacuation on a damaged motorcycle from a neighboring unit. Some still continue combat work on the front line. …/6
“I didn’t choose this path. I didn’t strive for any kind of career growth — it just happened that way. For the sake of the unit, I’m ready to serve.
When the war ends, we’ll still have to rebuild the army, to recruit a regular, professional force — and honestly, in civilian life, I simply don’t see myself. I see it as my duty to teach the future generation. I will definitely pass on all the combat experience I gained — having felt it through the condition of the guys: moral, physical, and everything else.
The most important thing is motivating people. A person cannot command a brigade, a unit, a company, a squad, without having directly participated in combat. That is the main criterion. If he has felt what it is from the very bottom, then he — and those who survived similar experience — will take leadership positions, and first of all they will protect their personnel and make decisions, because they know what it is like.”
#withfireandsword🔥⚔️ #117ombr #heroesamongus #personalities
…/7
When the war ends, we’ll still have to rebuild the army, to recruit a regular, professional force — and honestly, in civilian life, I simply don’t see myself. I see it as my duty to teach the future generation. I will definitely pass on all the combat experience I gained — having felt it through the condition of the guys: moral, physical, and everything else.
The most important thing is motivating people. A person cannot command a brigade, a unit, a company, a squad, without having directly participated in combat. That is the main criterion. If he has felt what it is from the very bottom, then he — and those who survived similar experience — will take leadership positions, and first of all they will protect their personnel and make decisions, because they know what it is like.”
#withfireandsword🔥⚔️ #117ombr #heroesamongus #personalities
…/7
So that was what was published. There is more to the story. Serhii is now Commander Serhii Kashyrin of Gimli Division!! He was recognized and promoted to lead his own division under 117 Heavy Mechanized Brigade.
We have a collection now to support these brave soldiers. It is for a van.
Sometimes there is a lot of noise from an about volunteers online, so today I wanted to share and highlight the hero I work for. My brother, Gimli.
Please support our collection. We have some of the best fellas ever who donated prizes!! …/8
We have a collection now to support these brave soldiers. It is for a van.
Sometimes there is a lot of noise from an about volunteers online, so today I wanted to share and highlight the hero I work for. My brother, Gimli.
Please support our collection. We have some of the best fellas ever who donated prizes!! …/8
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
