19-year-old Ukrainian infantryman captures three Russians during assault

“Now I feel better. I’m not just some 19-year-old kid — I’ve already done something in life,” the young soldier said.

Malyi signed an 18-to-24-month contract in spring 2025 and decided to go to the front line after his cousin was killed, saying he could not stay home.

During one of the assaults, he received an order to enter a supposedly empty bunker. Inside, three Russian soldiers were hiding in a back room.

“My guys had retreated; I was left alone. I was running on adrenaline. I shouted to the guys over the radio, ‘Bring me another grenade!’” the infantryman said.

Together with another serviceman, he used psychological pressure on the Russians.

“We told them: ‘Do you want to live? You have families, children. Come out or we’ll throw in a thermobaric [grenade]!’ At that moment I hadn’t even held a thermobaric in my hands,” Malyi said.

The Russian soldiers surrendered. Moments later, a Russian drone dropped a large munition nearby.

“A Russian drone flew in and dropped some kind of large munition on me,” he added.

“I managed to jump out of the way, but the blast still hit me. When I got up, my entire pant leg was covered in blood. I was afraid I’d severed an artery, but thank God that didn’t happen.”

He received first aid and was evacuated along with the captured Russians.

Malyi said that after completing his contract he plans to return home and marry his girlfriend, but in the future he intends to serve in the army again — though not as an infantryman.