Volodymyr Savelyev (Mongol)
Junior Lieutenant of the 53rd Separate Rifle Battalion, designer.
Author of the short story “Salad” in the collection “Voices of Defenders, Vol. 1”, where he recounts a night combat mission, shelling, fear, and a small puppy that became a symbol of hope.
Military path
Volodymyr Savelyev is 30 years old. He was born and lives in Lviv.
He graduated from the National Forestry University of Ukraine, Department of Design, and worked in his field.
On July 25, 2023, he voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 53rd Separate Rifle Battalion as a Junior Lieutenant.
He fought in the Donbas, participating in battles in Staromaiorske and on the Pokrovske front. During combat, he sustained severe injuries that led to the amputation of both legs.
For his courage and service, he was awarded the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s honorary badge, the “Golden Cross.”
He recalls with irony:
I climbed onto the roof of a building on the front line in Staromaiorske to get a bottle of water wrapped in blue tape.
Civilian life
After a series of complex surgeries, Volodymyr is undergoing rehabilitation and learning to walk again. Before the war, he worked as a designer; now he combines recovery with efforts to rediscover himself in civilian life.
How he began writing:
I was sitting on the position and wanted to capture some thoughts and emotions.
Favorite books, music, and films:
Books: The Lord of the Rings, The Dark Tower.
Music: I enjoy a variety, from Vioria to Hate Speech, Bring Me the Horizon, and drum and bass.
My mood can change in an instant.
The best thing that happened to me in the army was overcoming the enemy.
After the army I can’t look at bearded men and I’ve come to appreciate feminine aesthetics more.
