The Story of Our Veteran Serhii Kovalchuk, Warehouse Operator at the Vinnytsia Distribution Centre
Tell us how Avrora first became part of your life.
I discovered Avrora through my wife. She is a talented manager and a remarkable person. She has always been someone who enjoys staying active, developing professionally, and discovering new opportunities. She previously worked in a different field but later decided to change jobs and applied to Avrora—which is now our company.
She was initially offered a sales assistant position. However, a new store was opening near our home, and she became its manager. That was how I began to learn more about the company.
At the time, I was working as a shift supervisor at another company, but I had been following Avrora’s development and could see its potential. The company does not stand still: new stores are opening, new opportunities are emerging, and there is room for growth. Now I call it “our Avrora” because it has become mine as well—I work here too.
What else influenced your decision to work at Avrora?
I have extensive experience in warehouse operations, so when I first visited Avrora’s warehouse in Vinnytsia and saw the working conditions, the level of organisation, and the order maintained there, I felt as though I had stepped into a completely different world.
I know how a warehouse should operate because I had already worked in this field and had seen different approaches to organising processes. Here, I saw a modern warehouse terminal with racking systems, specialised equipment, electric pallet trucks, and reach trucks. Everything was well organised and coordinated.
I looked around and said, “I am ready to work! When can I start?”
Tell us about your military experience. How did your military service begin?
I am not a career serviceman, but circumstances have given me extensive experience of military service and combat operations. However, I can say honestly that I have never witnessed a war like the one currently taking place in Ukraine.
In 2014, I wanted to join the military, but I was not called up at the time. When the full-scale invasion began, however, there was no longer any question about what I should do. On 3 March 2022, people with military experience assembled in Vinnytsia, and we left to defend Kyiv.
We served in Kyiv, Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, and the Chernihiv region. We engaged enemy convoys, evacuated people from occupied territories, and assisted civilians. Later, we were deployed to the Bakhmut sector, Avdiivka, Stepove, Berdychi, and Kurakhove.
For a certain period, I commanded a company while holding the rank of senior sergeant. The people serving alongside me were ordinary civilians—film directors, teachers, and professionals from various fields who had come to defend their country. We learned, trained others, and carried out our duties.
There were injuries and blast-related concussions. After one severe injury, I was told that I would never walk again, and my wife was advised to prepare for the possibility that I would need a wheelchair. But I am grateful to the doctors who gave me a chance. I made a decision: I would live not because circumstances made it easy, but in spite of everything.
What helps you recover?
Sport. It has been part of my life for a long time. I once played football professionally, and sport has given me a great deal: discipline, strength of character, and an understanding that results come through hard work.
I now train regularly at the gym. For me, it is a way to remain strong both physically and emotionally. I do not want a person to be defined solely by an injury or a diagnosis. There is a person, a character, and a choice. You can stop and wait for sympathy, or you can keep moving forward. I chose to keep moving forward.
How were you welcomed by the Avrora team?
Very warmly. People knew that I was a veteran, that I had taken part in combat operations, and that I had been wounded. Nevertheless, the team welcomed me naturally and treated me with genuine humanity.
I currently work with younger colleagues. We have different experiences, and sometimes we view certain things differently. But we talk, and I can see that these conversations can be valuable. Some people begin to understand war, military service, and responsibility from a different perspective.
What do you value most in a team?
Respect and genuine human kindness.
I do not consider this the achievement of any one individual. It is the achievement of everyone: the manager, the women and men on the team, the entire workforce, and the people who support veterans. It is thanks to them that I feel comfortable here.
I know that if I stumble, the guys will immediately come over and offer me a hand. The women will make me tea, smile, and offer their support. These are not insignificant details. An atmosphere is created every day through simple gestures such as these.
It is not enough simply to employ a veteran. It is important to welcome them appropriately—not to pity them or treat them as different, but to see them as a person. I always say that I am an ordinary person, simply with my own experiences. When we are treated with respect, we respond with the same respect.
What advice would you give to veterans who are looking for work and considering Avrora?
I would advise them to apply and give it a try.
Avrora offers good working conditions, official employment with a fully declared salary, social benefits, and clear rules. You know how much you have earned and what you will receive. That is important to me.
It is also important that veterans genuinely receive attention here. The approach is not simply, “You have been hired, so get to work.” People ask questions, listen, and try to understand what an individual needs. If veterans have specific needs, these are discussed, and support is provided.
I would therefore encourage veterans to consider Avrora. There are employment opportunities, respect, and people who treat others with genuine humanity.
What does Avrora mean to you today?
To me, Avrora is its people.
I am grateful to my team, my managers, and everyone who helps create this atmosphere. After military service, injuries, and everything a person has endured, it is extremely important to enter an environment where you are welcomed not as a problem, but as a person.
When you are treated with respect, you respond with the same respect.
