As part of the Heroes of War series, a meeting was held with Senior Lieutenant Andrii Karliuchenko, call sign “Carlos”, an officer of the Communications Section of the 101 Separate Brigade for the Protection of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, named after Colonel General Henadii Vorobiov.
Andrii Karliuchenko comes from the Kherson region. He has served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2007. During this time, he has risen from conscript soldier to officer.
During the conversation with the event moderator, Olha Vorobiei, the serviceman said that he had dreamed of military service since childhood. From the beginning of the russian-Ukrainian War, he carried out combat missions in the ATO/JFO zone, and after the start of the full-scale invasion, he took part in the defence of Kyiv and the Kyiv region, later fighting in Donbas.
In early 2023, Andrii Karliuchenko took command of a platoon in the Bakhmut, Zaitseve, Horlivka and Maiorsk checkpoint sector. In the summer of the same year, he sustained a severe leg injury during combat operations. After evacuation, he underwent treatment in Dnipro, Kyiv, and abroad, in Germany, but doctors were unable to save the limb.
The serviceman emphasised that his greatest support during this period came from his wife and son. According to him, his family is the main motivation for continuing his service.
The senior lieutenant spoke with particular pride about the servicemen he had once trained and prepared for service. “I have given this war so many personnel, people who joined the military with spirit, honour and skills. And there are thousands of them,” Andrii Karliuchenko said.
Today, he continues his service in the Communications Section of the 101 Separate Brigade for the Protection of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, named after Colonel General Henadii Vorobiov, and despite his injury, he cannot imagine himself outside the military.
“I believe that Ukraine must think about the military first and foremost, because the military is the foundation. What we are doing now, the fact that we are standing firm, is a great cause,” the serviceman stressed.
Andrii Karliuchenko has been awarded the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine decorations “Badge of Honour” and “For Exemplary Service”, the Commander of the Joint Forces Operation decorations “Cossack Cross” 2nd and 3rd Class, as well as a number of state and military medals.
At the end of the meeting, the senior lieutenant donated personal artefacts related to his combat path to the War Museum’s collection.
The War Museum sincerely thanks Andrii Karliuchenko for the open conversation, his trust, and the donated items, which will enrich the collection of testimonies of the modern russian-Ukrainian War.
