Russian media outlets have been hailing a Russian soldier as a hero for allegedly continuing to fight in the Kursk region for a week after getting shot in the head.

The unnamed man, reportedly a member of the 155th Marine Brigade of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, was fighting Ukrainian troops in Kursk when he got shot. At the time, his helmet was blown off of his head, but he thought the bullet must have ricocheted from it. He developed a hematoma above his right eye which eventually caused his eye to swallow shut, but he just went about his business, thinking the swelling would heal on its own. It was only after suffering another shrapnel-related injury that the man ended up in the hospital and learned that the bullet that had knocked his helmet off had actually pierced his skull and was lodged in his brain.

A photo of the soldier after suffering the bizarre injury shows a visibly damaged combat helmet and his swallowed eye, but it’s unclear how neither he nor other fellow soldiers noticed a bullet wound. The man allegedly continued fighting for another week without any complications other than his inflamed eyelid.

It was only after performing an X-ray exam for shrapnel that Russian doctors discovered a large rifle bullet stuck in the soldier’s brain. They deemed his case a rare miracle, and now the man is being praised for his resilience. Some are even calling for the Russian military to honor him with a medal.

This unusual tale is reminiscent of another incredible war story, that of American Civil War soldier Jacob Miller who lived for 50 years after getting shot in the forehead with a musket and having a metal ball lodged in his brain. Photos of him with a visible hole in his forehead are still doing the rounds on social media today.