As bitter fighting raged around the eastern city of Bakhmut on Jan. 25, 2023, Dziubynskyi said their unit, the 95th Air Assault Brigade, were surrounded by Russian forces who bombarded them with tank and mortar fire. 

He said they dived into adjoining trenches, adding that as he came out of a daze he realized he was bleeding from his nose and his ears. 

Then he heard screaming from the other trench. 

Eventually he was able to make his way over, “I immediately saw Vova,” Dziubynskyi said,…