18-Year-Old Volunteer Sergei Joins the Fight in Eastern Ukraine
Sergei, an 18-year-old volunteer known by his call sign “Khokhol,” serves in the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade, reports 24brussels.
His story was shared by the operational command “Dnipro” on social media, highlighting that he is currently engaged in combat in Eastern Ukraine, having recently changed positions. In a video, he recounts how he left home despite his mother’s tears and protests, enlisting six months after turning eighteen.
When asked why he decided to join the war, Sergei stated, “The motivation is to defend my loved ones, my home, and those I care about. We need to protect our country so that the gunfire echoes in Donetsk Oblast, not in Volyn.”
Additionally, the “Contract 18–24” initiative allows Ukrainians aged 18 to 24 to enlist in the Defense Forces for one or two years, depending on their specialty. This program includes a financial reward of one million hryvnias, distributed in installments.
