The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Combat medic Oleksii, call sign “Recruit”, who serves in the Phoenix unit of the State Border Guard Service, spoke about frontline work, his experience under oc
His story was published on the Phoenix unit’s YouTube channel.
From Emergency Medicine to the Front
Before the full-scale invasion, Oleksii worked in Kyiv’s emergency medical service and studied to become a physical therapist. He decided to join the military after finding himself under occupation in the Kyiv region.
He witnessed Russian columns moving toward the capital and endured searches and humiliation by the occupiers. After leaving the occupied territory, he returned to Kyiv and enlisted.
Work at the Limits of Human Capability
“Recruit” now serves as a paramedic. His backpack contains a full set of equipment for stabilizing severely wounded soldiers.
According to him, the current war has significantly accelerated the development of medicine. Ukrainian medics face combat trauma daily — injuries rarely seen in civilian life. This includes complex evacuations, anti-shock treatment, anesthesia, intubation, and resuscitation.
The border guard stresses the importance of a well-coordinated team: without precise cooperation, an evacuation or surgery can end with the loss of a wounded soldier before arriving at a stabilization point.
12 Hours With a Tourniquet: How an Arm Was Saved
One of the most difficult cases the medic encountered involved an 18-year-old serviceman who had spent 12 hours with a tourniquet on his upper arm. Despite the high risk of tourniquet syndrome and loss of limb, after surgery and assessment of muscle viability, doctors managed to save the arm.
The soldier later underwent several surgeries and rehabilitation. According to the medic, functionality of the limb was restored by about 90%. After recovery, the serviceman returned to duty and now works as an instructor in Kyiv.
Rehabilitation: A Key to Returning to Life
“Recruit” emphasizes that for a country at war, rehabilitation is just as important as surgery. This includes physical recovery after amputations and severe trauma, as well as psychological support.
Many wounded soldiers face deep psychological crises, and without professional assistance, they may lose motivation to live. Therefore, a comprehensive system of physical and psychological rehabilitation is critically important.
Fatigue Is Real, but Motivation Remains
The medic admits that years of war have changed him greatly, and moral exhaustion is noticeable. Yet his main motivation remains the shared goal — a free and independent Ukraine, peace, and a return to the 1991 borders.
The full story of Oleksii “Recruit” and more details about his service can be viewed in the original video on the Phoenix YouTube channel.
