A paramedic from Kazan: «I couldn't stand aside, that's how I was raised»

A woman who provided medical care for 26 soldiers was awarded the medal «For Saving Lives»

A paramedic from the Kazan ambulance station with a nick name «Gulya» has been in the special operation zone since the summer of 2023. On the eve of International Women's Day, KZN.RU spoke with a woman who has shown courage and compassion on the front lines.

When the special operation started, many people went to the front. «I couldn't stay away, that's how I was raised. I grew up reading books and watching films about the Great Patriotic War», – said «Gulya». In May 2023, she went Luhansk and sign a contract with one of the military units.

At the Lugansk healthcare facility, there was also a medical battalion. «We worked side by side and the military doctors recommended me to their superiors», – she said. «The head of the medical battalion promoted me to the rank of ensign». After passing the military medical examination in Kazan in June 2023, she was awarded this title.

As a paramedic in the medical unit, «Gulya» worked around the clock to assist the wounded and sick in the LPR and DPR, where she also performed statistical tasks and headed the blood transfusion department. Local residents, organizations such as Union of Paratroopers and Union of Border Guards, helped equip the medical unit.

Besides a huge amount of work, there was the evacuation of seriously injured soldiers in ambulances. While in civilian life, she might have helped one or two patients on each trip, in the war zone it could be as many as 15 to 30 soldiers with various injuries and wounds. «During this time, missile attacks targeted the hospital and enemy drones flew while we were evacuating the wounded. Thanks to the efforts of the electronic warfare and air defense teams, as well as the skilled drivers and my colleagues, we managed to avoid casualties», – «Gulya» recalls.

As soon as the number of wounded decreased, the command set up a field hospital in a nearby village.

«When the seriously wounded soldiers from the front lines arrived, the medical team immediately went to the wound dressing station. The paramedics, doctors, and nurses not only helped the injured soldiers, but also provided them with clean clothes, food, cleaned the hospital premises. We all are equal, surgeons were not sitting idle, waiting for an operation to begin, they help nurses at free time to keep the hospital clean», – she says.

Presently, «Gulya» serves as the head of the medical center in the howitzer artillery battalion, working as a paramedic. She plans to return to Kazan after the end of the special military operation. «Gulya» is proud of her ability to contribute in the area of the special military operation.

In July 2023, «Gulya» was awarded the medal «For Saving Lives» from the Russian President, for her efforts in providing medical assistance to 26 wounded soldiers. Additionally, she has been awarded medals for her services to military medicine and her participation in the special military operation.