Struggling through post-war life: A lone South Ural soldier's journey in raising his daughter
Soldier's Life Altered after Battlefield Loss
Alexander Gorkhov, a resident of Rosa village in the Chelyabinsk region, embarked on a special operation with an unexpected twist. Just a month into service, he learned news that would forever change his path and force him to return home. Journalist IA "First Regional" relayed his story of trials, courage, and hope.
With the announcement of mobilization, Alexander, previously working at BelAZ, doubted no need for his impending conscription notice. As a deputy commander of an artillery platoon, he knew his role would be crucial. Time was ticking, and one day, he received a call from the military enlistment office about his conscription notice.
"I shared the information with everyone on the radio, 'Well, guys, I've got my conscription notice, I'm heading to Ukraine'," he remembers.
Applying for a deferment was an option, but Alexander made his choice. "'I'm a man.' If I'm needed, I'll go. I had no doubts," he recalls.
His family, friends, and acquaintances came to bid him farewell, including his wife Ksenia, whom he had recently reconciled. They kept the details from their daughter Aliya. Waving goodbye, the heaviness of the moment weighed on him.
"I went with the awareness that this could be a one-way ticket. Anything could happen, and there might be no way back," he says.
As he parted from Ksenia, she made a prophetic remark. "'It feels like we're saying goodbye for the last time,'" he recalls, a statement he initially dismissed.
Beginning combat missions immediately, Alexander served as a sapper in an engineering sapper battalion, one of the most dangerous roles. He admits there were times when he thought his last seconds were upon him.
"All that mattered was to stay alive. You don't think about home or family. You just distance yourself and survive," he says.
During breaks, he would contact home to speak with his family. A conversation with Ksenia revealed her diagnosis with stage IV cancer. Encouraging words from fellow soldiers lifted his spirits. He believed everything would turn out alright"We even made plans for the future, about having another child," he recalls.
Returning from a mission, he received a call from doctors advising him to urgently return home. A month of combat operations behind him, Alexander rushed home. However, he arrived too late. Ksenia had passed away in Volgograd, where his father informed him by phone.
The most daunting task now was talking to his daughter. By the time they met, Alisa was already aware of her mother's fate.
After returning to civilian life, he found himself yearning to go back to his brothers on the battlefield. Yet, his new mission became raising his daughter and forming a new family.
In their leisure time, they enjoyed spending time together, watching movies or shopping. Alisa's school displayed pictures of heroes of the special military operation, including Alexander's.
"When she first noticed that my photo was up there, she walked proudly," he recalls.
Aliya's presence for him represents solace and a reason to hold on to hope.
"We must face every situation with appropriate response. If that's what was meant to happen, then so be it. Of course, it's incredibly hard, terribly painful. But life goes on. My role is to make my daughter happy," he says.
- Alexander's life in the Chelyabinsk region took a significant turn when his service in the special operation, aimed at Ukraine, led him to the realization of his role in health-and-wellness, specifically family health, as a father.
- Despite the dangerous nature of his role as a sapper in the war-and-conflicts, Alexander found solace in maintaining his connection with his family, exchanging news about their health and wellness.
- Amid the tumultuous backdrop of politics and general-news, Alexander's relationships with his family experienced profound changes, such as his wife Ksenia's stage IV cancer diagnosis, and the unfortunate timing of their goodbyes.
- The lifestyle of Alexander and his daughter, Aliya, post-conflict, became centered around creating a new family dynamic, focusing on family-health and parenting to heal from their losses.
- In the realm of science and lifestyle, Alexander's experience as a soldier in war-and-conflicts and his new role as a single parent has inspired a unique perspective on family-dynamics and relationships, embodying resilience and hope in the face of adversity.
