80th Brigade Sniper Completes Two-Day Mission with Bullet Near Spine

27 October, 2024 Sniper "Mazay". Source: 80th Brigade A soldier of the 80th Separate 'Galician' Air Assault Brigade spent two days performing a combat mission with a bullet near his spine.

This story was reported by the 'Galician' Brigade's press service. "I have been very ideological since childhood. My great-grandfather fought for Ukraine," says the sniper with the call sign 'Mazay'.

The sniper joined the army recently, after the HR department at his work received a call to the military commissariat. "The HR department at work received a summons. I had been considering mobilization since the early days of the full-scale invasion, but one reason after another delayed it.

Then the call came, and I didn't argue anymore. I went through basic combat training, and though I was initially drawn to the marines, fate led me to the airborne assault troops. I don't regret it for a second.

It's incredible here, and I've met so many interesting people," says the sniper.

Sniper "Mazay". Source: 80th Brigade

In the 80th Brigade, Mazay mastered the specialty of sniper, and he says he has been interested in weapons since childhood, but before mobilization he had only seen this job in computer games. Mazay gained some useful experience for the army in his civilian life.

"Before the war, I worked for five years as a forester. I did various calculations, planted forests, and managed some people. It was the same as now: I was walking around the forest with a gun, shooting various pests.

So, the work has not changed," adds the paratrooper.

Injuries

At the beginning of the Kursk operation, Mazay and his partner were in reserve. A little later, they received a command to move forward. "I gathered my thoughts, we were brought to a combat position, everything was great.

At first, it looked like chaos to me, but then I started to notice order. I listened carefully to what I was told, because I really wanted to live. And I was told: you will live if you obey.

I did not deviate from that memorandum, not even for a second," says Mazay. While advancing through the enemy territory, the sniper detected the first enemies by ear. This gave him an advantage of several important seconds to prepare for contact.

Illustrative photo of servicemen of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.

Photo from open sources

On the same day, Mazay received his first injury when an enemy bullet passed between his kidney and liver and stopped near his spine. The soldier did not panic. He continued to fire at the enemy, supported by his comrades.

For Mazay, his experience on the battlefield showed that the most difficult part of a sniper's job is the need to walk a lot. It is also important to work not only with the weapon, but with your mind as well. "I thought it would be difficult to shoot at people.

But when it came down to it, it turned out to be the easiest. The enemy is not as terrible as they say. Staying in the positions was and is quite easy for me.

The first time I was in the position, I was worried, but everything went smoothly. If you obey your commanders and remember what you were taught, everything will be fine. Taking the initiative into your own hands is fatal.

And if you have a comrade nearby who can help and advise you, it is most useful," says the sniper. After a few months in the ranks of the 80th 'Galician' Brigade, the young paratrooper is most motivated by his family and the desire to liberate the country from the invaders.

Photo on the topic Ukrainian Air Assault Forces

Currently, Mazay continues to recover from his injury and is looking forward to returning to his duties. "To my comrades now in the Kursk region, my first advice is to take all instructions and guidance seriously.

Don't ignore what you're told.

Continuously study and analyze your actions--understand what you did right and what went wrong.

And it's essential to carry plenty of water; without it, you won't last long," emphasized Mazay.