He first served in a medevac unit, evacuating the wounded from the front lines. Constantly balancing between life and death, and losing brothers- and sisters-in-arms, led him to a decision to become a reconnaissance soldier. Even a severe injury and dozens of surgeries did not break his convictions: the fight for Ukraine’s freedom is also a battle for the future of Belarus. He has been awarded the Order For Courage, 3rd Class.
Throughout his life, Alexander tried many different professions, each of which shaped his character in its own way. Somewhere he learned patience, elsewhere responsibility, and how to better understand people. His callsign, therefore, is no coincidence:
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“I worked as a jeweler. I traveled abroad for work. Then I got a job at a psychiatric hospital and worked there for about ten years as an orderly. More recently, since I knew the city well, I worked as a taxi driver.”
When russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Alexander was in Belarus. He followed the events from afar, but the decision to act was already forming in his mind:
“I was woken up by phone calls. They told me: turn on the TV, check the news, and the internet. I thought it was about the so-called ‘DPR’—their usual stuff. But I couldn’t even imagine that missiles would be flying toward Kyiv. I immediately called to return my car, because I understood I wouldn’t be able to keep working. Even in Minsk, people were shocked. No one could believe it.”
Jeweler knew he could not remain silent. But going out to protest with a sign would almost certainly land him in prison. So he decided he could be more useful in Ukraine, where he could take up arms. He had a Schengen visa, which allowed him to leave Belarus. His route took him through russia, via Kaliningrad. After crossing nine countries, he first arrived in Budapest, and later in Ukraine.
After that, Alexander trained for a long time with other volunteers. There was an attempt to form the Pahonia battalion.
Later, by his own request, he transferred to the 1st International Special Purpose Company named after Ivan Bohun, and eventually to the newly formed 2nd International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine:
“I liked that foreigners brought something new. I saw this support — support from people of completely different nationalities. I ended up in a platoon with Georgians, and I was amazed at how much I learned about Sakartvelo.”
In the volunteer’s view, the very structure of the International Legion is built on trust, mutual help, and support. He believes this is exactly what the entire Ukrainian army should be based on:
“For example, in my group there was an American woman, two Indians, a Georgian, a Belarusian, and Ukrainians. Everyone could replace each other, and it all happened with a smile. Even when we didn’t know the language well, we still found a way to understand each other — we figured things out. I still feel like part of that family.”
At first, Jeweler joined a medevac team. He worked in the Chernihiv region, Bakhmut, and the Serebriansky Forest. Every day he helped evacuate the wounded from the front line, sometimes witnessing the deaths of his comrades:
“When you manage to bring someone back and they come alive, you feel an incredible surge of strength and energy. But those swings between life and death… they’re very, very hard. Especially retrieving the deceased.’ And even harder when you know them. Taking away guys who were standing next to you that same morning — smoking together, talking, joking.”
Over time, Jeweler decided to take part in combat missions himself — conducting reconnaissance. During one such mission, his comrade Minsk was killed, and Alexander himself was severely wounded:
“We were spotted and came under fire. I couldn’t get out and ordered him to retreat. He opened fire, drawing them onto himself. I didn’t immediately realize how serious my injuries were. Both my legs were wounded, the bones shattered, and I couldn’t stand. He died from a single wound. They just didn’t have time to give him medical help.”
Fortunately, Jeweler was evacuated to a safe zone. After that, his fight continued — no longer on the front line, but in hospital wards. Five months in intensive care, dozens of surgeries, and a long road to recovery lay ahead:
“My condition was very severe. It wasn’t just about whether they could save my leg — my chances of survival were also very low. Unfortunately for some, but fortunately for many — I’m alive. The day before yesterday I had my 87th surgery. Huge thanks to all the doctors who simply didn’t give up.”
His time in hospitals became a period when he deeply felt the support of volunteers and ordinary Ukrainians. People of all ages came to help, encourage, and talk. In those moments, he once again understood what this fight is all about:
“I’ve been in many hospitals, in different cities. And help came from very different people. From schoolchildren who come on Sundays and bring me a small bottle of cola — just to talk, to hear why I went to war. And from people who write on Facebook or Instagram, ask for donations, and then come to visit us, support us, lift our spirits. This once again proves to me personally that I wasn’t there in vain. That I didn’t fight for this people for nothing. This unity — it’s something huge.”
Everything Alexander has gone through in this war will stay with him forever — memories of the front line, the loss of comrades, and his own fight for life. Yet even the most painful experiences he meets with stoic resilience:
“My life split into two periods: before February 24, 2022, and after. And now, seeing all the horrors of this war, I don’t understand people who say: ‘Let’s not talk about politics.’ Then what should we talk about? This is our life. And war is not politics. War is the life we are living now.”
For Alexander, politics is about how the state treats you. His “baptism by politics” happened back in the 1990s. In this context, Jeweler recalls the Chornobyl Way — a major memorial march in Minsk marking the tenth anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster:
“It was a long time ago — 1996. I was jailed then for participating in protests. By the way, I held a picket in support of Ukrainians who came to us for the Chornobyl Way. Ukrainians came because Chornobyl affected both our countries. But they were detained simply because they were Ukrainian.
I protested against Ukrainians being held in custody. They even tried to charge them with criminal offenses — almost like attempting to overthrow the state. But I saw what they were doing — nothing wrong. They were unarmed and definitely not trying to overthrow anyone. Especially since it was happening at a rally that was officially permitted. So it turned out that Ukraine has played a very big role in my life.”
Alexander proved not with words but with actions that he is worthy of being part of a free society. His path is one of choice, responsibility, and struggle. But the war is not over, and every day demands resilience. It is the understanding of what this fight is for — the clarity of its ultimate goal — that gives strength to move forward:
“We just have to keep fighting until the end — for the guys who died beside me. To win and fulfill their dream — to live in a free country. Both in Ukraine and in Belarus.”
Learn more about the Legionnaires of the Free World — and how to join the brave — on the official website: https://ildu.mil.gov.ua/
Text: Dmytro Tolkachov
Photo, video: Volodymyr Patola, Oleksandr Los
Editing: Oleksandr Bekker
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