Originally from Luhansk Oblast in eastern Ukraine (now occupied by the Russian forces), Roman Shutylo has been clearing mines and unexploded ordinance for nearly 20 years. Before the conflict in the Donbas erupted in 2014, he was clearing ordinance left behind from World War II. After the conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted in 2014, his work with Ukraine's State Emergency Services was redirected towards clearing mines and explosives in the Donbas, and when the Russian Forces invaded across Ukraine in 2022, he and his team began clearing mines and unexploded ordinance from the formerly occupied territories of Ukraine, often under continued shelling and attacks from the Russians who have intentions to reclaim the land. Since the 2022 invasion, Roman, the commander of the Luhansk Sappers (approximately 50 in total in the beginning), has already lost three sappers in the line of duty, while another three have lost limbs and nine more are hospitalized. They have moved from the Kyiv region, to Kharkiv, and now to Kherson, working seven days a week clearing anti-tank mines, personnel mines, and clearing homes and residential areas of live ordinance.