Serhiy Vlasenko, a rescuer from Kyiv, lost his apartment due to an attack by a Russian drone.
Serhiy, 35, has been serving in the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) for 15 years. He is the head of a watch team, who during this time has seen and extinguished hundreds of fires, rescuing people in the toughest conditions. On the night the Russian drone hit the building where he lived with his family, Serhiy was on duty.
The apartment that was full of life just yesterday was completely burnt out. At home were Serhiy’s mother, his wife with their 5-year-old son, and 8-month-old daughter. They managed to react to the alarm, which saved their lives. When the rescuers arrived at the scene, Serhiy saw that his own apartment was on fire. He continued his work, extinguishing the flames engulfing his home and clearing damaged structures to reach the children’s room.
This was a tough ordeal, but he endured it just as he does every ‘combat’ duty: professionally and clearly. Serhiy and his family lost their home, but they have already received keys to a service apartment. This is the system’s responsibility to those who save others every day.
Stories like these remind us that rescuers are not just a service. They are people with children, parents, and homes. Even when their own home falls victim to war, they still are the first to help others. Thank you, Serhiy, and to everyone who is there for people every loud night.