Participant of the Regional Competition "Young Person of the Year – 2025" in the Nomination "Unbroken: The Strength of Spirit and Valor of Donetsk Region" Serhii Mozharovskyi
I, Serhii Mozharovskyi, was born in 1998 in the village of Ocheretyne, Donetsk Oblast. I grew up in an ordinary Ukrainian family, where from childhood I was instilled with diligence, responsibility, love for my homeland, and deep respect for people.
At school, I studied with great interest, particularly passionate about technology, natural sciences, and geography. After finishing 9th grade, I entered the Donetsk Polytechnic Technical College, specializing in "Household Appliance Processing and Repair."
Unfortunately, the events of 2014 — the occupation of Donetsk and the beginning of Russian aggression — drastically changed my life. Due to the dangerous situation and the forced cessation of the educational process, I was compelled to leave college and return home. To complete my secondary education, I returned to Ocheretyne School, where I successfully graduated from 11th grade in 2015.
In the same year, I enrolled in Donetsk National Technical University, which at that time had been evacuated to Pokrovsk. I chose the specialty "Earth Sciences," as I had been interested in geology and natural disciplines since school. During my studies, I was a diligent and persistent student. After earning my bachelor's degree, I got a job as a geologist at the ShU "Pokrovske" mine, where I gained my first professional experience in subsurface resource management.
Alongside my work, I continued my master's studies. In 2020, I successfully defended my qualification thesis and received my master's degree in my specialty.
In the autumn of 2021, I was called up for compulsory military service in the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine. I served in Mariupol, carrying out tasks to ensure public safety and the city's defense capabilities.
On February 24, 2022, along with the entire country, I met the beginning of the full-scale invasion. As a National Guard soldier, I was on the front lines in Mariupol. Together with my comrades-in-arms, we bravely and honorably defended the city amidst constant shelling, resource shortages, and a total enemy offensive. During the defense, I sustained a bullet wound.
After prolonged battles and the blockade of the "Azovstal" plant, on May 17, 2022, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, I surrendered into captivity with the hope of a subsequent exchange. For 27 months, I remained in Russian captivity, where I faced physical and psychological pressure, harsh detention conditions, and humiliation. However, I never lost faith in myself, in Ukraine, and in our victory. Memories of my family, the resilience of my brothers-in-arms, and a deep conviction in the righteousness of our struggle kept me going. While in captivity, I discovered creative abilities within myself and began writing poems, which I dedicated primarily to my beloved and my relatives. This helped me to keep my spirits up and emotionally recharged me.
On August 24, 2024, on Ukraine's Independence Day, I was released from captivity as part of an exchange. Returning home was the most powerful emotional moment of my life. I am currently undergoing a recovery process – physical, moral, and social. I am learning to live among civilians again, finding myself in a new reality, and I have a great desire to be useful to the state and society.
I intend to continue my professional activities, acquire new knowledge and skills, and actively participate in socially important initiatives.