The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Instead of the theater stage and motorcycle trips, Oleksandra chose service in the ranks of the 2nd Galician Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine to do everything possible for peace in her country.
Her story was shared on the National Guard’s page.
“She could have performed on stage, done stand-up, or ridden kilometers on her favorite bike. All of this was important in her life. But when war came to her homeland, she felt she could not remain on the sidelines”, — the National Guard reported.
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- Олександра служить у лавах 2-ї Галицької бригади Національної гвардії України
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- Олександра служить у лавах 2-ї Галицької бригади Національної гвардії України
Today Oleksandra serves in the 2nd Galician Brigade, though her path to this decision took nearly ten years — since 2014.
In 2015, she combined her main job with volunteering in an NGO helping soldiers returning from the ATO. That is when she became interested in psychotherapy and later began studying it professionally.
“Back then, a dream was born — to professionally work on veterans’ mental health, helping them adapt to civilian life”, — she said.
Oleksandra now serves in a “Coordination Center” between services in one of the brigade’s units — responsible and meticulous work, as processing data literally affects a servicemember’s fate and support.
“Meeting real titan-like people plays a huge role. In my brigade, I draw inspiration from the courage of my comrades. Whatever tasks I perform on my micro-level, I understand that I am part of a large organism that brings victory closer every day. Feeling part of that shield and fist with which Ukraine defends itself is key for me”, — she said.
In parallel with service, Oleksandra is studying to become a psychotherapist. Her goal is to better understand the military from within to effectively help them recover mentally in the future.
Motivation in the military, she believes, largely depends on how one perceives the reality around them. Sometimes additional challenges come from questions like: “Do you regret signing a contract?” or “Is it difficult for a woman in the military?”
“The military is hard — that’s true. But I never regretted putting on the uniform — that’s also true. For me, it’s about a dialogue with my conscience and understanding my own choice. I chose to be where one must be during war. Years will pass, peace will return, and I will know that in hard times I did not stand aside and did my best”, — Oleksandra said.
