Oleksandr Filippov, a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who dedicated 30 months to the war, was demobilized and is returning to civilian life and building a career as a developer.
Oleksandr Filippov, a veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who dedicated 30 months to the war, was demobilized and is returning to civilian life and building a career as a developer.
Before the full-scale war, Oleksandr managed to live several different lives. He came to IT, then deliberately left it — and moved to Poland. There, he changed his office job to a chef’s apron: from Polish and Italian cuisine to the international level of Hard Rock Cafe. After the pandemic, he returned to Ukraine. He closed that stage and started everything from scratch. He went back to IT, studied for seven months to get into his dream company. But he received an offer from Sigma Software during the full-scale war. And later he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
My first question when I was assigned was very simple: «Where can I be of most benefit?» I had experience in various fields, I learned and adapted quickly. And even in the worst-case scenarios I thought very pragmatically: «At most, complete the task. At least, take as many of the enemy with me as possible.»
Nobody taught us to fight, didn’t prepare us for such a scenario, so everyone has their own path. What supported me during the war was that my wife was with me. Once, after returning from Donbas, she said that this was the last time I would go without her. Before that, we hadn’t parted for nine years. I refused, but I respected her decision.
In fact, the feeling that after a week in the trenches you would come to a makeshift house where they were waiting for you was very strong. In one village where we found a hut, there was no communication at all. And it had to work. I found equipment, figured out how to extend the signal from the tower, installed a repeater. And I made sure that the house had Internet. It also appeared near the house. And it was such a funny story — the whole village would gather under our hut just to catch the signal. That is, there was war all around, in a half-destroyed village, and you have an Internet cafe under your hut.
There is one story that I have returned to many times in my mind. After a complex spinal surgery, which, by the way, was masterfully performed by our doctors in Ukraine. I woke up with a titanium in my back at the age of 33. The thought that this was forever was bothering me. And this story helped me, because it was not all in vain, I did something, I saved someone.
Our guys found themselves completely surrounded. So much so that the enemy was already in the next entrance. It was clear: they wouldn’t get out of there on their own. I coordinated the operation.
Important decisions had to be made. The task was not to «win the battle», but to get people out. To get them out, I took a risk and sent 2 Mavic 3Ds. Then I could have lost two drones for half a million each. But «people’s lives are more important.» They got through. One was injured, but alive. In the end, they were evacuated. I don’t know their names. But I know they are alive.
Returning to civilian life is difficult, even harsh. No one gives you instructions, not even a basic list: what to do, where to go, how to complete the documents. You are simply left alone with this process. I didn’t even know how to apply for a pension — write an official request. I often ran into bureaucracy that would stop what I had started for months. I went and did everything on my own.
For a while, I just stayed home: slept, ate sweets, drank tea, played video games, and watched some courses because I was thinking about going back to work.
During the war, many opportunities from a past life cease to exist. I was lucky that I had somewhere to return to. While I was serving, the company supported me. And it wasn’t «formal support.» Everything I needed was covered. A car, expensive tires for it (because I was driving on sand — I needed specific ones), uniform, equipment, drones. My salary was also preserved. But even that wasn’t the main thing.
To be honest, I wasn’t 100% sure that it would be like that. Because it’s very easy to promise something at the moment for «in two years.» But when I returned, it all really happened. They were waiting for me and were ready to go through this path of reintegration with me.
When I realized that I was ready, I wrote to my people partner, Kateryna, I respect her a lot because she is a super cool person. We just sat down with her and started talking. They didn’t tell me: «Here is your position, work.» They asked me: «What do you want to do?»
By the way, I was seriously thinking about changing direction. Because given my new experience, it was more logical for me to move to DevOps, because it’s all about networks, security, infrastructure. And I was offered different options.
The only restriction I had from the company was to choose one direction. «Choose what interests you. We will help you»: courses, mentors, vacancies — we will find everything. That’s how my process of returning to development began.
Together with me, they started building a return route. Various people joined in: People Partners, managers, mentors.
They helped me not only with professional adaptation. It was also psychological support, a return to teamwork, and a gradual entry into a new rhythm of life.
When I became interested in the Full Stack direction, they found me a mentor — an architect. We started working almost from scratch. Because the truth was that I was very worried that during this time I had forgotten everything.
And now — I have studies — several courses at the same time, projects. Sometimes I don’t even keep up with myself. And that’s the funniest thing. Because a year ago I didn’t understand whether anything would work out at all.
What motivates me the most is responsibility. When so much time, attention, and trust is invested in you, you want to show the result. Don’t let down the people who believed in you.
This is a very strong motivation for me. I would advise those who are currently on their way back not to try to pull everything out on their own.
And accept two important things about yourself.
Return is a process. It’s definitely not one day. Or even one month.
After the war, you change. And life changes too. You have to give yourself time to put together a new version of yourself.
Today, I think about the future much more than the past. I want to develop further in technology, learn, take on new challenges, and work on complex projects.
And just live.
I joked throughout the service that my favorite hobby was being alive. Today, it’s not a joke, it’s my reality.
