Restore a Hero’s Smile — the Face of a Warrior: Vitaliy Sharabar

Every participant in the Dental Help UA project — our defenders — has a unique story.

Vitaliy Sharabar, who is undergoing dental rehabilitation at the Alfa‑Dent clinic in Novovolynsk, says he was ready for an enemy attack in February 2022.

“Many of my friends are servicemen, and I had enough information to understand how events might unfold,” Vitaliy recalls. “So in January 2022 I returned from Poland, where I had been working at the time, because I decided I would definitely defend my country.”

He didn’t have to wait long: by late February Vitaliy signed up as a volunteer for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and from February 25 he was in service — he joined the 14th Brigade in Novovolynsk. Given his extensive experience working as an underground electromechanic, Vitaliy was assigned as a driver of an MT‑LB tracked vehicle. Since then he has served on several hot fronts: Kherson, Bakhmut, Kremienna. He has been wounded several times, resulting in a head injury, a metal implant in his leg, and seven knocked‑out teeth.

“When you drive a heavy tracked vehicle like that, jaw injuries are common. A driver often hits his chin or nose on various metal parts of the machine,” Vitaliy shares. “Overall, I drove the MT‑LB for more than 4,000 km. Two months on the Bakhmut front… These are all rough, uneven roads, so losing teeth is unpleasant but not surprising.”

Before arriving at Alfa‑Dent, he went through a long search for a specialist who could restore his smile. Vitaliy is grateful to Dental Help UA and to Oleg Tyvoniuk for the professional care and the opportunity to restore his dental health.

At 29, Vitaliy Sharabar has already seen and endured a lot. Yet even after severe injuries, he continues to serve: he is currently with aerial reconnaissance.

“I bought drones with my own money, with a little help from volunteers. I clearly understand what I must do now: destroy the enemy in the way I can, until victory,” the defender says.