Oleh Shpak, a draisine operator from the Kakhovka Track District, stood up to defend Ukraine back in July 2021.

On August 19, 2022, while performing a combat mission near the village of Pisky in the Donetsk region, he came under devastating mortar shelling. Oleh survived, but at the cost of extremely severe injuries: a gunshot wound to the leg, an open traumatic brain injury, fractures of the skull and lower jaw, and chest contusions.

A long struggle for his life and health began. The first operation took place in the Pokrovsk military hospital, followed by complex and lengthy treatment at the Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery, where he underwent another intervention.

In November 2023, Oleh was demobilized, but the path to recovery was not yet complete.

The decisive step happened in April 2024. With the financial support of Ukrzaliznytsia, a complex operation was performed at the Institute of Neurosurgery, which gave Oleh a chance to return to a full life.

Thanks to this support and the "Iron Family" program, Oleh Shpak was able to recover and, most importantly, return to work among his colleagues. Today, he continues to work as a guard at Snihurivka station.