“Alive, healthy, I see, I hear”: the story of the indomitability of Denis Nikonchuk
Every veteran has his own story. Not only about combat experience, but also about the path that led him to defend the Motherland. The story of Denis Nikonchuk is the story of an ordinary person who, in the midst of war, found the strength to answer the call of duty, passed the test of army life and returned to civilian life, having gained difficult but valuable experience.
Denis’s path began, like many others, with mobilization. Having a higher education, Denis received an offer to take officer courses. At first, he rejected this idea, but when the combat call came, he agreed. With other mobilized people, he first went to study in Goncharivske in the Chernihiv region, and then to the Lviv Academy in Starychy.
“It was a kind of service and training at the same time,” explains Denis. For him, as a person without experience of military service, it was the first deep immersion in military affairs. Training at the academy lasted about two months and included both theoretical classes - notes, military diploma, and practical - defense, platoon and company management, practicing subsequent actions.
After graduating from the academy, Denis was awarded the rank of junior lieutenant, and he was appointed commander of a machine-gun platoon in one of the newly created brigades in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
“You come and you are already the commander and leader of your subordinates. And often, the life and health of these people are already in your hands,” - this is how Denis describes the main challenge of officer service. He got a difficult unit, where there was no commander for a long time, and the duties were performed by a sergeant. A large amount of “red tape” fell on the shoulders of the young officer - receiving material assets, weapons, equipment.
He also faced other, less obvious, problems of army life. This required not only commanding qualities, but also the ability to find a common language with subordinates.
Denis's further fate was decided during the exercises. During the fire training, a technical failure occurred - the DShK machine gun gave an automatic cut, and while trying to hold it, Denis was wounded in the face by shrapnel. "I let go of the trigger - and the machine gun continued to fire. I held it, and it rose up. And at some point - a blow. A piece of bullet and blood on the eyebrow. This became the point of return." After the injury and a month of recovery, Denis returned to his workplace at Omega //. The team met him normally, and most importantly - he was alive, healthy and on his feet.
Denis does not call himself a veteran. He speaks honestly and directly: he does not want to exaggerate. When asked about his well-being, Denis answers with a smile and almost philosophical simplicity:
“Alive, healthy, I hear, see, feel. This is the most important thing. I always compare with the worst - everything is fine with me.”
He received a disability, but did not undergo baptism of fire - but this does not diminish his experience and choice. Adaptation after service is never easy. But he returned to work, to familiar processes, to the team - and again became part of our big family.
Denys' story is not about high-profile feats, but about endurance, adaptation and the will to live. About a person who went through a difficult path without losing himself, and was able to find the strength to start all over again. His experience is an important testimony that the path of courage is different, but everyone who has gone through it deserves respect and memory.