Armed with grenade launcher: How a Ukrainian nurse saves her unit from encirclement

Heroic path of brave Ukrainian woman Svitlana

According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Svitlana volunteered to serve at the very beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, as she had extensive medical experience.

Previously, she worked as a nurse in the intensive care unit of Mechnikov Hospital in the city of Dnipro.

Ukrainian woman Svitlana became a volunteer (photo: facebook.com/BrTODnipro)

Like all fighters of the Dyke Pole 128th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, the woman had repeatedly practiced shooting at the training ground with all types of weapons — including various grenade launchers.

Recently, the brigade commander presented Svitlana with an award — the Cross of the Ground Forces — for destroying a group of soldiers with a grenade launcher shot, and for saving a Ukrainian unit from encirclement.

Svitlana received the Cross of the Ground Forces (photo: facebook.com/BrTODnipro)

"I even feel a bit embarrassed because I already have two Golden Crosses of the first and second class, and many other awards. And some’ve been nominated so many times but still haven’t received anything," the nurse admitted.

It’s worth noting that Svitlana’s son, also a volunteer, was killed in action near Bakhmut. She made it her mission to save the lives of her fellow soldiers.

That’s why, after receiving her latest award, she returned to her battalion, which is holding the line in the Zaporizhzhia direction.

How a nurse took on the enemy with a grenade launcher

Ukrainians were told that when a powerful attack by Russian troops began, involving armored vehicles and infantry, Svitlana was at a company strongpoint located among the ruins of a settlement. At first, she fought back alongside her fellow soldiers.

At that moment, the unit was left without a commander, so Svitlana took command herself:

• she received instructions over the radio from the battalion commander, who was observing the battlefield via video feed;

• she coordinated the actions of all fighters at their positions.

However, it soon became clear that the unit’s positions had been surrounded:

• a group of Russian soldiers had entered one of the buildings from the rear;

• they took the retreat routes and ammunition supply lines under fire control.

Svitlana then "told the guys to hold their ground and under no circumstances abandon their positions."

"Because if they did, we definitely wouldn’t make it. Then I grabbed a single-use grenade launcher and went to face the Russian assault troops. They had gotten too close — just two houses away. I flanked them, stood up, and fired through a window of the building. The entire group of soldiers was left there," she recounted.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized that the resilience of the Ukrainian soldiers and Svitlana’s brave actions disrupted the attack and prevented the encirclement of their positions.

Thanks to that victory, achieved among the ruins of Staromaiorske, a rotation was carried out within a few days, and the soldiers were safely withdrawn from their positions.

"The guys said, ‘You’re something else.’ But what else could I do in that moment? Just wait for the enemy to kill us all?" Svitlana shared.

Post by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (screenshot: facebook.com/AFUkraine)