Gas workers of Kyiv region working under fire and during occupation

Rubryka tells the stories of Kyivovblgaz, a leader among gas distribution enterprises of Ukraine, employees who worked under shelling, during the occupation and despite the threat of torture and death. All of them were approaching the liberation of their native Kyiv region. But now they stand guard at the country's energy front. A year after the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion, Rubryka tells the stories of the gas heroes of Kyivoblgaz JSC.

On February 24, 2022, the employer started his shift, according to the schedule, and was among those who eliminated gas leaks at shelling sites from the first day of the war. On February 27, Oleksandr stepped in for a 24-hour shift that lasted 11 days — everyone who could replace a specialist evacuated with their families away or was in occupation.

All this time, Oleksandr and his partner went to calls, extinguished gas fires, and urgently cut off the gas supply in areas damaged by shelling. Oleksandr made it possible to prevent fires in almost a hundred houses. In addition, together with a colleague, they collected people around the city in a company car during the shelling and took them to safe places.

When hostilities began, Leonid Sevruk remained in the Kyiv region and, with his colleagues, eliminated emergencies until it was no longer possible. The occupiers destroyed a riser in a house with small children in one of the villages under fire. Thanks to Leonid's quick reaction, the emergency was eliminated despite the shelling.

In addition, Sevruk delivered food to the villages of one of the occupied districts of the Kyiv region. On March 19, 2022, he was captured by the russians. "At the pit," they forced out of him a confession that he was a fire adjuster, tortured him with an electric shocker, and put a bag on his head. Now Leonid is safe and continues to work with his team.

Oleksandr Khvylia worked with Oleksii Babeykin. His shift began on March 5 and ended only five days later. Because he was not afraid to work under fire, it was possible to save almost 40 houses in an apartment district of one of the cities of Kyiv region.

During the trip to emergencies, Oleksii's team repeatedly came under artillery fire. During one of them, shrapnel damaged a gas worker's car, but no one was injured. Oleksii's family was under occupation all this time.

Mykhailo's work experience in the gas industry is more than 17 years. With the beginning of russia's full-scale offensive, he and his family decided to stay at home in the part of the Kyiv region that later came under occupation.

After one of the large-scale shellings, Mykhailo realized that the occupiers could cut off the high-pressure gas pipeline in the neighboring village. So, together with the head of the united territorial community and his son, Mykhailo went to block the gas pipeline at 2 a.m. despite the risk of death. During the shelling, the Dudarenko family hid in the cellar, and as soon as the explosions subsided, Mykhailo went to conduct technical inspections to prevent possible fires and gas leaks.

Oleksandr Kulak worked together with Dudarenko at the end of February. Together, they blocked another gas pipeline, where the cabinet gas control point caught fire.

The gas workers extinguished the fire, drawing water from the nearest sewage pit. Having dealt with the fire, they started the generator and immediately began restoration work. During almost every trip to long distances, Oleksandr heard russian armored personnel carriers firing at enemy roadblocks, but the man did not stop because of a sense of responsibility.

Oleksandr's village was occupied. He was forced to constantly hide from the occupiers and secretly repair the cabinet control point, which allowed the boiler room to resume operation.

Oleksandr's actions made it possible to provide warmth to the village residents when the temperature reached -3 degrees.

Serhii Zhyvaga's village was also occupied. When the russian military was there, the neighbors hid him, and he could leave for a nearby town with a gas distribution station.

Since the area was under constant mortar shelling, the gas supply had to be shut off. That's exactly what Serhii did. When Serhii was making his way to his car, two shells exploded nearby. Fortunately, he survived and later more than once delivered food and medicine through the occupied territories.

Serhii Davydenko was also forced to live under occupation. Since he knew the detours to the gas office, together with his wife, they took a lot of valuable equipment from there and hid it at home. They also took out the generator on a wheelbarrow and hid it in firewood.

Someone told the occupiers about what the Davydenkos were doing, so the russians came to search them one day. The enemies did not manage to find the hiding place, so the family was not harmed and is now safe.

Ukraine remembers every heroic act.

Ukrainians carry the fire of future victory within themselves, doing their work daily, despite all odds!

All the heroes Rubryka mentioned in the article received an award from JSC Kyivoblgaz – "Heroes among us!" Oleksandr Khvylia received an honor from the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.