Recently, a set of personal belongings has become a part of the Museum collection, each artifact telling an extraordinary story. These pieces reflect the military path and comrades of the Hero of Ukraine, a participant in the russian-Ukrainian war, Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Dronov.
The future Defender was born in the Rivne region. From a very young age, he aspired to become a soldier and dedicated himself to entering a military educational institution. After graduating from the Kruty Heroes Lviv Lyceum with Intensive Military and Physical Training, he entered the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy. Due to russian aggression, he had to finish his studies early. In 2015, the lieutenant took command of the mechanized platoon of the 17th Separate Kryvyi Rih Heavy Mechanized Brigade named after Konstantin Pestushko. Bohdan Dronov gained combat experience as a commander of various military formations, fought near the city of Popasna, on the Svitlodarsk Salient, in the settlements of Avdiivka, Novotoshkivka, Shyrokyne, Zaitseve, Svitlychne.
In December 2021, already a captain, Bohdan Dronov assumed the position of commander of the 17th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Cossak Ataman Kostya Gordienko. On the eve of the full-scale russian invasion, he received the rank of major and, together with his battalion, was one of the first to fight the enemy.
As the Hero recalls, he managed to hold out under the enemy’s pressure thanks to the experience gained in the ATO/JFO, and the feat of the defenders of the city of Mariupol gave him strength and inspiration.
Bohdan Dronov consistently stood alongside his soldiers on the front lines, earning the respect and appreciation of both his comrades and higher command. The officer expresses deep gratitude for everyone who served alongside him during that time.
The Defender revealed that he learned he had been awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine after emerging from a coma due to serious injuries. However, in response to congratulations from friends and acquaintances, he consistently emphasized, "This is not only my merit; it is also the merit of the entire 17th Separate Mechanized Battalion."
Currently, Lieutenant Colonel Dronov is training future officers at the National Defense University of Ukraine, passing on invaluable experience gained in fierce battles with the russians.
To the Museum, Bohdan Dronov donated his combat boots with traces of blood after the wound, tactical glasses that his comrade gave him in 2016 and that have since saved the soldier more than once, and one of the most valuable things for the Hero—a holster for a pistol with Bohdan Dronov’s call sign "Kolobok" engraved on it, given by his comrades.
The Museum sincerely thanks Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Dronov for the meeting, his heartfelt recounting of his military career, and the donation of materials to the collection.
