Defender Arthur: a conversation with the junior sergeant of the communications platoon of the 63rd Brigade

In the world of RBTNK, there are 6 characters who fight for victory together: Defender, Medic, Rescuer (front line), and Volunteer, Journalist, Employee (rear). These superheroes are among us: with their own backgrounds, skills, and superpowers - different, but united by a common goal. We want the RBTNK community to know more about them. So, in the Superheroes feature, we talk to our heroes about what matters: why they chose this role, what their mission is, their dreams, and the artifacts that help them keep going.

Today we are speaking with Artur Dmytryshyn, a junior sergeant in the communications unit of the 63rd Brigade and the creator of the keep going YouTube channel.

Hi, Artur! Tell us, how did you join the military?

Before joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I worked as a project manager at an IT company. I took on all the problems and helped the developers do their work better. In my free time, I also ran a small blog where I talked about my life and how I was trying to make it a little better. I still do it today; the blog is called keep going.

Then I decided to join the military and went to serve in the communications unit of the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. Here, I create content about the brigade and our soldiers. And I organize fundraising campaigns.

Why did you choose this particular role in the war?

I had the relevant skills. I knew how to tell stories, how to make them known and recognizable. I knew how to build a brand. I decided that this was how I could be most useful here.

I feel awkward calling myself a servicemember because I serve in a rear position. I consider what I do simply a job. There are no schedules or days off - but it is work that I try to devote myself to fully

“I consider what I do simply a job”

What do you see as your mission?

To tell the stories of our heroes. Every day, the guys and girls do something extraordinary, sacrificing what is most precious - their lives and health. Heroic deeds often go unnoticed, and my task is to make sure people learn the real price paid by those who protect us.

“My task is to make sure people learn the real price paid by those who protect us”

Does this help build a bridge between the rear and the front line?

Yes, I think everything comes down to communication. The rear and the front line need to talk and find common ground. We differ on many issues, but we need to unite. And to do that, we need to communicate.

Tell us your favorite story from your service

There are foreigners in our brigade. One of them is Bruce. He is American, 25 years old, and a former Marine. He came to Ukraine because he realized that he had skills that would be useful here, and he could not stay at home. He learned the language so well during his time here that, when he captured a prisoner, he spoke to him in Ukrainian. “On your knees, please,” “Want a cigarette?” “I won't shoot” - all in flawless Ukrainian. What surprises me most is that he did not learn some basic phrases in Russian (which is what foreigners most often do). He learned Ukrainian and emphasizes how important that is. We became friends, and I teach him some words. We learned “кохання” - a much deeper word than “любов.” The last time we saw each other, he was proud that he now knew such a word from me.

What do you dream about now?

I dream of starting to dream again. Of seeing possibilities for the future again. Of falling in love with life again. Simply - to live a normal life, full of joy and good and bad moments (because without the bad ones, it would also be uninteresting). But I also have a childhood dream. Since childhood, I saw airships in cartoons and films - they looked so grand and beautiful. I dream of flying in an airship someday :)

“I dream of starting to dream again”

What gives you the faith and determination to keep fighting?

Our guys working on the front line. I speak with them regularly, and they inspire me so much with their strength. They are titans. And I understand that, even with all my problems and hang-ups, I simply cannot give up. Because then I would let them down. And I cannot let them down.

“I cannot give up, because then I would let them down. And I cannot let them down”

What artifacts are always with you and help you keep going?

The first is a little dove, like the one from the film “Home Alone 2.” My girlfriend has one, and I have the other. I carry it in my body armor, in the pocket near my heart. I say that I am safe because of it. It protects me.

The second is a capybara :) A few months ago, I was on leave, and my girlfriend and I won a capybara from a toy claw machine. That capybara stayed with her, but she gave me another one. And this one now sleeps with me.

The third is a cross. I do not consider myself a deeply religious person, but I believe that symbols to which you attach meaning can really work. I asked my godmother to send me a blessed cross, and I wear it all the time.

And what is on your dog tag?

A quote attributed to Winston Churchill: If you`re going through hell, just keep going (“If you're going through hell - just keep going”). This strongly echoes the name of my blog, keep going. I interpret it for myself this way: even if the circumstances in your life are very difficult, even if you are in the worst state you have ever been in - keep moving forward. Hell is just another stage that you need to get through. One way or another, you will reach something good. It will get easier.

“Hell is just another stage that you need to get through”

And finally: if you could become any game character, who would you choose?

I can name a book character instead :) It would be Robert Langdon from Dan Brown's books. I have always liked how he gets into all sorts of utterly idiotic situations and then uses his mind, knowledge of symbols, and things like that to get out of them.

Wear symbols that unite us. Order an RBTNK dog tag, like Artur's, and join our community.