Shvidka

Call sign "Shvydka": When the wounded are brought, everything else fades into the background.

Yulia "Shvydka" - a sergeant of the medical company of the 3rd Operational Brigade "Spartan" named after Colonel Petro Bolbochan of the National Guard of Ukraine - almost two years ago joined the army. Now "Shvydka" works as an assistant of an anesthesiologist and helps to save the wounded Ukrainian soldiers. In March 2025, the girl received a presidential award - the medal "For Saving Life".

Prior to joining the army, Julia devoted herself to medicine. Her callsign is a reminder that a woman has been working as an ambulance for ten years.

In July 2023, the "Shvydka" decided to join the Defense Forces.

"I wanted to go out in service as soon as the war broke out. I was an ambulance paramedic in Kyiv and studied at medical university. I know that if I left early, I wouldn't have finished it later. She graduated from medical university in June 23 and in July 23 came to the service. What was the main motivation for you to go to work? The war is in my country," Yulia said.

Now "Shvydka" works at the stabilization station. In particular, provides the wounded with emergency assistance. We are talking about shock and rehabilitation means.

His usual day in the combat zone, the medic describes as follows: "Duty 24 to 7. Wounded patients. There is a routine - breakfast, lunch, dinner, hygiene procedures. But when they bring the wounded - everything else goes to the background."

Yulia noted that the most difficult thing in her work is to see when resuscitation measures can no longer help the patient when a person dies, or when a military man is brought dead.

"Shvydka" recalled one of the most difficult moments in her service.

"We were in the Zaporozhye direction. We had unsuccessful resuscitation. And this patient had a twin brother who saw it all happen. It was from a psychological point of view difficult. And in the work all the same," - said "Fast".

In general, whether the wounded soldier will survive depends on many factors.

According to the doctor, the result is influenced not only by the actions of doctors, but also by a bunch of external factors - from the presence of the turnstile and its proper use to the timely evacuation.

"There are patients who could survive there, but they cannot be evacuated for several days, because it is impossible to evacuate due to hostilities. It also depends on the medic, who is there near the patient. From himself. The military themselves can wear down the turnstiles and die of it. They can make ends meet and lose them if they do not need them. Many people also depend on the qualification of doctors at the stabilization station," says "Shvydkyi".

According to her, the brigade "Spartan" pay attention to the training of doctors.

"Personally, I was sent on to study. I have been to the United States, Florida, and Norway. In Florida, it was an anesthesiology training. We've seen colleagues at work. In Norway blood training because we are dealing with hemotransfusion. It's a blood transfusion. Interestingly, increases skills and generally interesting experience. I'm not the only one who went. Many of our doctors studied in different countries," Yulia said. 

As for receiving the medal "For the saved life" "Shvydka" said that this is not for a specific case, but for the total work.

"We had a lot of successful resuscitation," the medic said.