Andriy Bodnar (Viter)
Captain, fighter of the 125th and 103rd Territorial Defense Brigades.
Author of the short story “The Last Exit” in the collection “Voices of Defenders, Vol. 1”, where he describes the day he was wounded while saving his fellow soldiers. It is a detailed, almost second-by-second account of the battle and his thoughts, including memories of friends who saved him.
I definitely have a strong sense of justice. I’ve become a bit impulsive, but overall I’m simple and sociable. I enjoy sincere, open people, good company, exciting adventures, and reading books.
Military path
Andriy is 35 years old. He was born in the village of Staryi Mylyatyn, Busk district, Lviv region, and currently lives in Lviv.
He is an energy engineer by education, having graduated from the National University “Lviv Polytechnic” with a degree in Electrical Stations. He worked on the design and construction of power grids while also being active in civic life and sports — cycling, tennis, mountaineering, swimming, and football — and went on annual mountain trips with friends.
After the full-scale war began in 2022, he joined the Territorial Defense Forces. He took part in combat operations in the Kharkiv region, particularly on the Kupiansk front. On April 5, 2024, he was wounded.
He has been awarded the “For Wounds” medal and the Territorial Defense Forces Cross.
Andriy recalls one of the moments from the war:
Once, while running to a neighboring position under fire, the path we always used was blocked by a fallen tree from a shell impact. I started going around it and… got tangled in blackberry bushes. Those few minutes under explosions all around, while I struggled to free myself, are something I will never forget.
Civilian life
After his injury, Andriy is undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, gradually trying to return to civilian life.
How he began writing:
In fact, I resisted for a long time, but my fiancée insisted, and I eventually realized that this is, in a way, an opportunity to step back, reconsider my experiences, and share at least a part of them.
Favorite books, music, and films:
Music: rock, ethno-house, folk-rock, ska-punk.
Books/films: adventure and science fiction.
For us, the most important thing is unity. We must understand that, at this moment, we have no other choice but to defend ourselves with weapons in hand. History has proven this. It is also essential to work hard on educating the next generations, so we don’t miss this historic chance to finally break free from Moscow’s yoke. Young people need the courage, inspiration, and our support to create change and stand up for the truth.