Veronika Melkozerova
Anastasia, a Ukrainian combat medic, volunteered to join the army in 2022. She had no military or medical experience but wanted to help wounded Ukrainian soldiers in rear hospitals and planned to stay far from combat.
Last fall, while on medical leave, she discovered that army command had transferred her to one of the hottest spots of Russia’s war against Ukraine, near Kurakhove in the eastern Donetsk region.
“I did not even have basic military training by the time I arrived. My former command forged my documents,” said Anastasia, who asked to be identified only by her first name. Military officials denied that such a thing could happen.
Anastasia said her new comrades are helping her adapt: “Already in this new brigade, drivers [have] taught me how to assemble a gun and [have] helped me a lot.”
Her story is being repeated across Ukraine as the country’s military struggles to fill personnel shortages caused by the fight against Russia’s relentless — slow but bloody — advance in eastern Ukraine.
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