"Usually, not many people choose to be a machine gunner, but when I saw the weapon, I knew it was mine"

Being a serviceman means unconditional dedication and readiness at any time to risk your health and life for the homeland. One such hero who put his own health on the line for democratic values and freedoms was Pavlo Ponomarenko with the call sign "Master" 

The soldier is from the Chernihiv region. Before the war, he worked as a builder. He found out that his native village was surrounded by the occupiers, being in Kyiv on 24 February. At that time he wanted to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a volunteer, but was declined. He was mobilized in the summer of 2023 and assigned as a machine gunner to the 33rd Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

 

How did you get into the army?

After the de-occupation of the Chernihiv region, my friends and I went to Chernihiv as builders to restore people's destroyed houses. Then I worked in Kyiv and Lviv. From there I was mobilized to the army. At first, I had a month of basic military training. A week before it ended, a colonel from the 33rd separate mechanized brigade arrived. That's how I joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

 

Why were you appointed a machine gunner?

Usually, no one wants to be a machine gunner, because they are the first target for the enemy. But when I saw the Belgian machine gun, I really liked it and thought it was mine — the weapon on which my life depended. I have one peculiarity — I see much worse in my right eye than in my left. That's why I had to learn to shoot with my left hand to fire more accurately at a greater distance. 

 

You have experience of combat assaults. How does it go?

Imagine that there are enemy drones, tanks, and mortars everywhere, and they are shooting at you non-stop. An assault is not about going into enemy positions and fighting. You are brought to a landing in the middle of the night, given a shovel and you dig a dugout. Sometimes I even had to dig with my hands. I had a windproof and moisture-proof jacket and pants, very cool and expensive. Clothes helped me a lot in this assignment. I was so upset when I saw that my arm was cut off along with the sleeve of that jacket. 

 

How did you get injured?

On 26 October 2023, we arrived at the position at night and in the morning, we went to storm it. A battle broke out, I saw only one russian, who periodically looked out and shot up. After the fourth grenade, our commander shouted to the enemy to surrender, but he raised his head and said: "russians don't give up!" I had my sights just right and fired. I remember lying in a trench, covering my comrades, and suddenly I was hit by a mine. I felt it burning on my left side. My comrade immediately pulled me away, applied a tourniquet, and we took a shelter that the russians had dug. 

We were sitting waiting because we were surrounded when suddenly something rang loudly above our heads, I remember the noise in my ears. Someone pulled me by the strap of my bulletproof vest: "Master, what's wrong with you? You're on fire! No, it fumes coming from you!". Brown-red smoke was oozing out of my clothes everywhere. "I think it's chemicals, get away from me," I said. We had to wait 23 hours for evacuation. The road we were driving on was mined. We were just unrealistically lucky to be alive! 

 

What were your thoughts on prosthetics in the US? 

I was really looking forward to it and hoped that I would get the most functional prosthesis possible in my case — this is the most important thing. After all, I am still serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Even though Pavlo lost his arm in combat with the enemy, his story is not only about this loss but also about his strength of spirit and thirst for life! Now Pavlo is proving this during the prosthetics and rehabilitation process he is undergoing at the MCOP clinic in Washington, DC. This became possible thanks to the joint support of our partners and patron Vadym Stolar. We are sincerely grateful for it!