The Ukraine War has significantly affected the lives of its citizens, with many stepping up to serve on the frontlines or supporting medical efforts. Among them is Karolina, known by her call sign "Cobra," who embodies the spirit of determination and resilience. "People continue going to the front because they feel they must. You understand — if not you, if not now — then what happened in Bucha could happen in my hometown," she shared, reflecting on her return to Ukraine as the war escalated.
Karolina, who had lived in Italy for nearly ten years, felt compelled to serve her homeland after seeing the rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. She returned to Ukraine just months before the full-scale invasion, driven by the belief it was her duty to help. "I felt it was my mission to help fight for Ukraine and show the world what’s happening here," she stated.
On April 2022, she began working with Italian news outlets, becoming a local producer to highlight the stories from the frontline. Yet, as the war dragged on and media attention waned, she sought something more meaningful—saving lives directly. "That’s when I turned to tactical medicine," she explained.
Karolina is now training to join the Hospitallers, Ukraine’s largest volunteer paramedic organization. Formed during the 2014 Russian invasion, the Hospitallers arose from the need for modernization within Ukraine’s military medical system. According to reports, they have conducted over 17,000 evacuations during the current conflict.
The organization, established by Yana Zinkevych, continues to grow, recently offering comprehensive training for new volunteers. With about 500 members, they play a pivotal role on the frontlines, being among the first responders during emergencies. Karolina is eager to join their ranks, stating, "We work for the sake of every life. The most important thing is to save as many lives as possible. It’s not about the money." Her enthusiasm is echoed by many volunteers seeking to meaningfully impact their war-torn land.
But the path to becoming a combat medic is fraught with challenges. Karolina faced rejections when attempting to join the military, and her family's concern about her decision to stay in Ukraine weighed heavily on her. "At first, they begged me to come back. But I told them my place is here. Now, they support me morally, psychologically, and sometimes financially," she recalled.
For seasoned volunteers like Andrii, who joined the Hospitallers, balancing frontline duties with civilian life poses its own intricacies. He noted, "It’s a unique combination of freedom and responsibility. You can continue civilian work during rotations." His dedication strengthens the sense of community among volunteers, as they provide care not only at the front but also assist the families affected by the war.
Meanwhile, for soldiers like Viktor, the prolonged war has led to dissatisfaction and disillusionment. After witnessing harsh conditions and receiving inadequate support, he chose to leave his unit. "I realised I'm nobody. Just a number," he lamented. This sentiment resonates with many servicemen facing the mental and emotional toll of nearly three years of conflict.
Thousands of soldiers have reportedly abandoned their units, prompting the Ukrainian government to investigate missing soldiers from the 155th Mechanised Brigade. The new military structure has left troops fatigued, and many, like Viktor and Oleksii, find themselves grappling with complex emotions toward their roles.
Olha Reshetylova, Ukraine’s commissioner for protecting service members’ rights, identified fatigue as a major issue, stating, "People are exhausted. They want to see their families. Their children are growing up without them. Relationships get broken." She calls attention to how these factors can lead to desertion and how addressing mental health is imperative during such tumultuous times.
Combat medics also continue facing new challenges on increasingly perilous battlegrounds as warfare evolves. With the introduction of drones significantly changing tactics, Andrii explained, "Drones have largely rewritten the rulebook on battlefield wounds: the numbers are rocketing, and the attacks are more persistent, more targeted." This advancement, combined with the urgency of saving lives, reflects the complex dynamics volunteer medics now navigate.
Despite the odds stacked against them, volunteers like Karolina and Andrii are determined to persevere, motivated not ideally by glory or recognition but rather by the noble intention of saving lives. They serve as beacons of hope within the chaos, emphasizing the need for people to act, as Karolina expressed, "for the sake of every life."
With the consistent influx of new volunteers hoping to make a difference, their collective efforts continue to showcase the strong bond of support among Ukrainians, ensuring the fight for freedom and dignity persists.