Some call him “The Technology Maniac,” others simply refer to him as “The Professor” or “The Maran”. However, beyond these labels lies the fascinating destiny of Volodimir Mirciuk, the man who today leads the Unmanned Systems Regiment “Lava” within the famous “Kartia” brigade. A man who left behind a comfortable life in the West and successful businesses to revolutionize the way Ukraine defends itself against the Russian invasion.
“Either you find your second wife, or you start doing triathlon”
Volodimir Mirciuk is originally from Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region. In his childhood, he used to play with lead soldiers, but never for a second did he think that life would lead him to the army. He pursued economic studies in Ternopil, and thanks to his intelligence, he ended up on an exchange program at the Technical University of Dresden. Subsequently, he overcame fierce competition – 32 candidates for one place – to enter the “Ludwig-Maximilian” University in Munich, the most prestigious economic institution in Germany.
After graduation, homesickness brought him back to Ukraine. He led an international company, then opened his own business in the timber industry, employing 60 people. He traveled to 38 countries and was always an adrenaline junkie.
“I was going through a midlife crisis and took refuge in sports: mountaineering, climbing, triathlon,” Volodimir recalls, smiling, about the period before the invasion. “Among managers, there’s a joke: when you reach a certain age, you either find a second wife, or you start doing triathlons. Sport teaches you to manage your time. But all my Ironman competitions were actually run under the bombardments in Guliaipole,” he told journalists from the Ukrainian publication Pravda.
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