In a harrowing tale of survival, two Ukrainian soldiers found themselves trapped in a small bunker in Avdiivka, eastern Ukraine, after repelling multiple Russian attempts to storm their position. The soldiers, Pvt. Vladyslav Molodykh, known as Hammer, and Pvt. Ihor Tretiak, known as Terminator, were surrounded by enemy forces who were relentless in their attacks.
The battle that ensued lasted 41 days, with the soldiers running low on food and communication with the outside world. The abandoned house that housed their bunker was eventually blown up, trapping them inside with no means of escape.
After two weeks, Pvt. Tretiak made a daring escape, leaving Pvt. Molodykh alone in the darkness of the bunker. As the earth shook with explosions and the Russians discussed his fate, Pvt. Molodykh prepared himself for death.
However, on Jan. 23, a rescue team led by a 21-year-old Ukrainian private, call sign Gerych, reached the bunker and called out for Pvt. Molodykh. To everyone’s surprise, he responded, weak but alive.
The rescue of Pvt. Molodykh was a moment of joy and relief for the soldiers who had thought him lost. Despite the intense fighting and the eventual capture of the bunker by Russian forces, both soldiers expressed their determination to return to the fight and defend their homeland.
The story of Pvt. Molodykh’s survival is a testament to the courage and resilience of Ukrainian soldiers in the face of overwhelming odds in a war fought in close-quarter combat.