Such people can be described in one word – Hero. Ihor is a military man, not by profession, but by the call of his heart. A true patriot, on the first day of the war, 24 February 2022, he was at the military enlistment office in the morning. He says he told his mother about his decision when he was appointed and was at his post. The man held a weapon until June when he sustained a concussion and was sent to Estonia for treatment. The soldier was diagnosed with an internal hematoma and was told to prepare for skull trepanation. At the same time, Ihor started looking for contacts where he could receive ART – at home, in Mykolaiv, he had got it for over 3 years. Although he had 3 months of therapy with him, he was afraid of interrupting it.

“I found the contacts of Eesti HIV-positiivste võrgustik (EHPV) on the Internet. When I called, I was pleasantly surprised – they came to the hospital the same day. Later, I made an appointment with a doctor who did a full examination, sent me for tests and immediately prescribed ART for three months. No problems and it’s a pleasant surprise.”

When asked about his next surgery, it seems that the soldier is not used to complaining. He only says that the pain is sometimes so severe that it prevents him from breathing freely, but immediately adds that as soon as it passes, he will return to his brothers, to the front. “I have already told the commander about this. Let them wait – we will celebrate the victory together!”