Nearly 20 years of military service, combat missions, three injuries, extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. Today, Dmytro Hunko is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Tactical and Special Training at Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs (KhNUIA). He shares his military experience with cadets while continuing to acquire new knowledge and explore new professional opportunities himself.
Dmytro’s military career began in 2006 with compulsory service in the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. After completing his service, he continued serving with Military Unit 3028 in Kalynivka, Vinnytsia Region. He later served in the Yahuar special operations unit, taking part in missions during the Anti-Terrorist Operation, including the operation to liberate the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building, as well as missions in the Izium and Sloviansk areas.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Dmytro continued defending his country as part of the 14th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Chervona Kalyna.”
During the full-scale war, he was wounded three times.
His first injury occurred in 2022 during the defence of Volnovakha. Dmytro sustained a leg injury but returned to service after treatment.
The second injury came the same year during fighting in Bilohorivka. This time, he suffered a head injury. Once again, after recovering, he returned to duty.
The third injury was the most serious. In 2023, during a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia area, Dmytro sustained a severe injury to his right arm.
His unit was tasked with forming assault groups, reaching designated positions, and establishing defensive positions there. As the servicemen were advancing, they came under mortar and artillery fire. Dmytro, who was commanding the unit at the time, continued to lead his personnel and organise their evacuation even after being wounded.
“At first, I was in shock. But I was the unit commander, so I continued to manage the personnel and make sure everyone was in cover. I didn’t even think about myself. The most important thing was that my people stayed alive and safe,” Dmytro recalls.
A long period of treatment followed. Dmytro received medical care in Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia, and Lviv, and later spent almost six months at a university hospital in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. There, he underwent complex surgery and received an elbow joint endoprosthesis.
After returning to Ukraine, he continued his rehabilitation. Although it was not possible to fully restore the function of his arm, the work of rehabilitation specialists helped him regain some of its mobility.
He spent several months at home with his family, but eventually realised that he wanted to return to an active life.
“I served for almost 19 and a half years and had always been surrounded by people. I realised that staying at home was not the answer. I needed to find a job and communicate with people,” Dmytro says.
That was how Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs entered a new chapter of his life. A former colleague with whom Dmytro had once served in Military Unit 3028 suggested that he consider teaching. Today, he is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Tactical and Special Training.
“Everyone has different skills, personalities and ways of thinking. You have to communicate with each person differently. You need an individual approach to everyone. In the military, it is different: you give an order and move forward. Here, everything works differently,” Dmytro explains.
At the same time, he is not limiting himself to sharing his own experience. He continues to learn and develop professionally. Dmytro was offered an opportunity to receive free training in cybersecurity for veterans. He was initially hesitant, but eventually decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
“At first, I hesitated. I thought, ‘Why do I need this at 41?’ But now I see that it is never too late to learn. With new technologies emerging, cybersecurity is essential. You have to keep developing,” Dmytro says.
Today, his military experience continues to contribute to the future. He trains cadets, helps them better understand the realities of law enforcement service, and at the same time continues to explore new professional horizons himself.
Three injuries did not put an end to Dmytro’s professional journey. On the contrary, they marked the beginning of a new chapter – one in which he can remain useful, pass his experience on to the younger generation, and continue growing professionally.
His story is one of service, the strength of family, a return to an active life, and the determination to keep moving forward, even when a new chapter requires starting again.
KNUIA Press Office
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