After the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 11 employees of Rafaliv Forestry from the Rivne region became volunteers of the hunting brigade at the front.
These are guys from the state forest guard, drivers, mechanics who know how to hold a weapon, light a fire in rain or snow, drive a car and a tractor, reports the "Trade Union of Foresters of the Rivne Region" on Facebook.
"3 In 2014, our team engaged in volunteering. We constantly helped the soldiers, especially those of our employees who defended Ukraine in the ATO-OOS zone. This year, my time has come," says the chief sergeant of the company of the 68th separate hunting brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Ishchyk Profcom.
Among the volunteers are both young workers and people older age. Their the forestry department was sent in its entirety to the service of the hunting brigade. They all serve together, only in different units.
"At first, it was a little difficult even for us, foresters, at the front. Because we work in the forest, and here in the area of responsibility – mainly – steppe. Only isolated plantings and "islands" of massifs. But soon they got used to this too," Ishchyk said.
In his company, 99.9% of fighters are foresters, hunters, sportsmen-tourists and shooters from Volyn, Lviv region, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Zakarpattia, Bukovyna. At home, they guarded their native forests, hunted poachers, black loggers, prevented illegal logging and fishing.
"We became skillful hunters of russian evil. We are successfully hunting the occupiers and their tanks, armored personnel carriers, airplanes, and rotorcraft. Our Rivne brotherhood is among the leaders of this hunt, he said.
They also became skilled military firemen, because there are many occupations after shelling.
"We also help the civilian population. We are fighting the enemy with a machine gun in one hand and a fire hose in the other," Ishchyk said.
He also added that thanks to commanders and volunteers, the unit has all the necessary equipment and fire-fighting and protective equipment.
As reported EcoPolitic before, a forester from Chernihiv region, who has been protecting forests for over 20 years, is protecting Ukraine after February 24 in the ranks of the Armed Forces.
