From the Mess Hall to the M-101: Border Guard 'Makar' Retrained as a Howitzer Gunner

Vitalii 'Makar': Cooking Became the First Step in a Combat Career

According to МВС: Vitalii, a Ukrainian border guard with the call sign 'Makar', has been part of the State Border Guard Service since 2016. His service trajectory is unusual: it began in the kitchen, where he worked as a military cook, and later took him to the gunner's seat of a 105-mm M-101 howitzer.

Among his combat assignments are some of the most demanding operations of the conflict. Makar joined the Kharkiv counteroffensive, took part in the recapture of Balakliia and Kupiansk, fought in the Luhansk region, and participated in the Kursk operation.

Today's Mission: Holding the Northern Slobozhansky Direction

Right now, Makar is manning defensive positions in the northern Slobozhansky direction.

“I am holding back the onslaught for them. Because beyond this point is only my home.”

At home, his wife Inna and their son Mark are waiting for him.

His service in intense combat areas underscores how vital Ukraine's eastern defensive line has become. Makar's personal experience-a journey from kitchen duty to artillery crew-reflects both the strain in the region and the commitment of defenders to their families and their country. His story brings out the human dimension of the conflict, reminding us that every soldier fighting for Ukraine's territorial integrity carries the weight of a larger national struggle.