Oleksandr Hovorukha, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Special Physical Training of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, defended Ukraine's independence from the first days of the full-scale invasion of the rf. Today, he combines combat experience and educational work, preparing future law enforcement officers for service in high-risk conditions.

While performing combat missions, Oleksandr Hovorukha was seriously wounded. After undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, he began working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Recognising the value of his practical and combat experience, the management invited the veteran to the educational activity at KhNUIA.

‘Combat experience is not just about tactics or physical training. It's about the ability to make quick decisions, keep yourself under control and take responsibility for others,’ emphasises Oleksandr Hovorukha.

In his work, Oleksandr Hovorukha organically combines theory with practice. He pays considerable attention to the development of physical endurance, psychological resilience, self-discipline and skills for acting in extreme conditions – qualities without which effective law enforcement service is impossible.

‘Physical training is the foundation of professional readiness. Under martial law, I have seen for myself that it is physical training that allows you to maintain control of the situation and protect others,’ he notes.

For cadets, studying with such a lecturer is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge from a specialist whose authority is based not only on years of service but also on personal combat experience. This approach fosters a responsible attitude towards the profession, endurance and readiness to act in high-risk situations.

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine consistently implements a state policy of supporting war veterans and their adaptation to professional life after returning from the front. Defenders are assigned positions in the MIA, including in educational institutions, where their experience is particularly valuable.

Oleksandr Hovorukha himself emphasises that such an initiative is extremely important for veterans: "For many defenders, returning to professional life is not an easy path. The MIA programmes for the employment and support of veterans give them a sense of purpose, help them find their place after the front and continue to perform their official duties to the state in a different format. For me, it is an opportunity to pass on my experience and be useful," says the veteran.

Today, hundreds of veterans are successfully working in structural units of the MIA, service centres, and higher education institutions with specific training conditions, passing on practical knowledge to a new generation of law enforcement officers. Professional retraining, psychological support, and social adaptation programmes are also provided for them.

‘Serving the state takes many forms. My mission now is to prepare cadets for responsible service and teach them to act confidently in any circumstances,’ concludes Oleksandr Hovorukha.

See the report for details on the ‘Yedyni Novyny’ telethon  https://univd.edu.ua/uk/news/26375