Heroes Among Us is a series of stories about people who find the strength and inspiration to adapt to civilian life and build a better future despite all the challenges they have faced. These are stories of those who continue to work for the benefit of their country after serving on the front lines.

The hero of this publication is Dmytro Holubnyk, a sailor of the bulk loader NIBULON MAX. He was already part of the NIBULON team when the war began. Later, Dmytro swapped the ship’s deck for military service, his crew for a platoon of comrades, and his daily work for executing combat missions.

From Sailor to Platoon Commander

Before the war, Dmytro worked for the Shipping Company, initially as a stevedore’s assistant and later as a shore deckhand before being transferred to NIBULON MAX. At the same time, he was studying to become a second mate, aspiring to climb the career ladder in the maritime industry. However, the full-scale invasion changed his life – he became a platoon commander in the 77th Brigade.

“I graduated from the military department and held the rank of junior lieutenant. In August 2022, I was drafted into the army and appointed platoon commander in the 77th Brigade, with 45 personnel under my command. At first, there was training, preparation, and combat coordination. While at work, I carried out the instructions of the leadership; in the army, I was the one leading people. I had to recall everything we were taught in military training. Sometimes, I even had to use a commanding voice. But I had a great team, and we always supported each other,” Dmytro recalls.

The army taught him discipline, decision-making in stressful situations, resilience, and communication. “The most important thing is to find common ground with people. That determines how well they will follow orders and whether they trust you,” he explains.

Beyond leadership skills, he had to learn some unexpected things like working with documents and spreadsheets. “War is not just about fighting; it’s also paperwork. I had to quickly master Word, Excel, reports, and journals,” Dmytro says with a smile.

Returning to Civilian Life

Due to an injury, Dmytro was discharged from service. However, he couldn’t immediately return to work. He needed time for rehabilitation.

“When I got a call from NIBULON asking when I could return, it was very encouraging. But physically, I wasn’t ready yet, so I asked for some more time,” he says.

Despite concerns about returning – “Will I remember everything? Will I manage?” The adaptation process went smoothly. “The team supported me. And while I couldn’t immediately work at full capacity, I was given the time and opportunity to recover.”

Підтримка ветеранів у «НІБУЛОНі» 

Veterans bring unique experience to the company: they are responsible, disciplined, team-oriented, and capable of making decisions in challenging conditions. NIBULON values these qualities and creates an environment where veterans can apply and develop their skills. The company not only guarantees job security for its employees who go to serve but also provides financial support, proving that caring for people is more than just words.

“After the war, you see life differently. Many things that seemed like problems before no longer matter. Now, the most important thing is to work side by side with people who understand and support you,” says the veteran.

Some colleagues may not fully understand veterans’ experiences. Not everyone knows how to communicate appropriately with those returning from military service, and some questions can be uncomfortable or even offensive. So, we asked Dmytro for advice on communicating with veterans.

“Don’t ask, ‘What did you do there?’ Also, avoid asking about combat details, losses, injuries, or a soldier’s motivation unless they choose to talk about it themselves,” Dmytro explains.

NIBULON doesn’t just talk about social responsibility; it takes action. Here, veterans find not only a job but also a team that will always support them. Because real heroes are among us.

Читайте попередню публікацію з циклу «Герої серед нас» про Костянтина Паталаха, інженера-енергетика філії «Хортиця», а також публікації про Лілію Нікітіну, яка вже 30 років працює в компанії, та Любов Верещаку, змінного майстра філії «Решетилівська».