Ukrainian soldier Serhii Krynytskyi defended positions near Chasiv Yar for 346 days, captured six Russian soldiers, and received Ukraine’s highest honour after surviving relentless assaults.
346 days on the front line with no rotation. 23 Russian troops killed in his sector of the defence line. Six Russians he personally captured. Meanwhile, back home, his sister spent seven months not knowing whether he was even alive.
According to Ukrainska Peremoha, before being mobilised, Serhii Krynytskyi, from Bilohiria in Khmelnytskyi region, worked as a construction worker and raised rabbits. He grew up with his grandmother, helped with household chores, and trained as a welder.
He was mobilised in 2024. After completing his training, Serhii became an infantryman in the 24th King Danylo Brigade and was deployed to Donetsk region, near Chasiv Yar. On the front line, he is known by the call sign “Sieronka.”
His first deployment to a position lasted three months. He then had 12 days of rest.
On April 20, 2025, he returned to the front line. He remained there for 346 days.
Rotation was nearly impossible, as Russian drones controlled the approaches. Leaving the position would have put neighbouring defensive lines at risk.
Russian forces launched constant assaults. During one battle, nine Russian troops approached the Ukrainian positions. Serhii killed two in close combat, while he and his fellow soldiers killed the other seven.
In total, he led the defence against at least six enemy assaults.
Food, water, and ammunition were delivered by drones, but Russian forces shot down some of them. At times, the defenders went several days without supplies.
While Serhii held his position near Chasiv Yar, his sister Ania was trying to find out just one thing: whether her brother was alive.
For seven months, she had not heard his voice. She called him, searched for information, and asked for help.
One day, after contacting a hotline, she received the news: Serhii was alive! In response to her request, officials promised to pass along a voice message from him.
After 346 days of defending his position, the soldier was finally evacuated. The military took advantage of favourable weather conditions. Before leaving, Serhii destroyed his shelter to prevent Russian forces from using it.
On May 5, 2026, he was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and presented with the Order of the Golden Star.
After receiving medical treatment and resting, Serhii decided to continue his military service.
During his leave, he visited a school. Seeing the smiling children, he could not hold back his tears.
“I’m not made of iron. I cried there. (…)
I realised that I hadn’t been there in vain, that I hadn’t defended our land in vain.”
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