Two years ago, the woman signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She was with her battalion in many offensive and defensive battles. Now he is rescuing Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmut.
Olga is a combat medic of one of the companies of the assault battalion of the 80th brigade. In civilian life, she was engaged in the family business with her husband. The couple had to leave their business because of the Russian invasion. The man went to war in 2014. Olga also rushed, but could not leave the children.
Olga takes the wounded from combat positions and takes them to the nearest evacuation point. The distance to the enemy is sometimes several tens of meters.
“This city is the most difficult thing that happened to me. After the wounded, we leave by armored personnel carrier directly to the position. Shelling is continuous. The Russians are firing machine guns from the windows. If they see an armored personnel carrier, they aim with a mortar. Our drivers are the coolest because they dodge the shells in time. We lack armored medical evacuation vehicles. Up to 10 people can fit in an armored personnel carrier. Only one can be lying down, and all others must sit. We take out the wounded along with the dead in an armored car,” Olga admits.
The most important thing in her work is to stop the bleeding in time and take her to the doctors. The military has many bullet and shrapnel wounds.
“The most difficult was 5 wounded at the same time. They were brought to me one by one into the shelter. The unit commander was wounded in the lung. He kept well, even covered us with a machine gun! One was seriously ill with cut arms and legs, a damaged lung. Thank God they are all alive. Later, one soldier died in my arms. The fragment flew straight into the garage and hit the carotid artery. I tried to clamp the artery on my neck… But I couldn’t do anything. I really don’t want to lose my brothers any more,” recalls the combat medic.
Olga saves all Ukrainian soldiers, not only Lviv paratroopers. Everyone is soothed differently. Just talking to them and holding their hand helps. When providing first aid, soldiers are in pain. They shout, quarrel, sometimes fight. And then they call from hospitals and thank them profusely for the saved lives.
The servicewoman herself is helped by her comrades:
“This is the coolest team. There are also good moments in war, when we are taken out to recuperate, when we barbecue, laugh, celebrate our birthdays. We just cherish every moment here. My brothers are strong and courageous. They are very protective of me. It has never happened that we threw someone in the middle of a shelling. We hold on to each other,” Olga says.
The defender notes that Ukrainians should prepare to defend the Motherland with weapons in hand from the first days of a full-scale offensive.
“If people leave the country en masse, we will not be able to do anything. The guys on the front line need to be replaced, because they get very tired psychologically and physically. People, prepare for war, change the military and do not be afraid of your fear. Training and experience overcomes fear. The price of victory is very heavy. We lose the best people every day. Understand this as soon as possible and act,” the servicewoman emphasizes.
Public Relations Service of the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.