Four km under drones for 5 hours: the soldier “Fighter” told how he and his comrades evacuated the body of the deceased

Collage by Serhiy Polishchuk / ArmyInform A warrior with the call sign “Boyets” comes from Ivano-Frankivsk region.

In the Armed Forces – from July 2023. This year, he participated in several successful trips in the Zaporozhye region as part of the evacuation group.

How is it 4 kilometers to carry the body of a brother and hide from enemy drones every minute? What is the most important thing for a driver who is transporting a seriously injured person? But what injuries are currently the most common at the front?

“Boyets” told our correspondent about this.

“There were four of us, it was difficult to carry, because the deceased weighed more than 100 kg” I remember my first visit. We had to evacuate the body of our fallen brother. It was in the Verbovoy district, in the Zaporozhye direction. Then at 5 o’clock in the morning we left. At first, they were on the BMP, because they still had to bring water to the boys at the position.

We are just approaching, and they immediately start firing at us with a mortar. The enemy noticed us. I immediately hid. They waited a little and went after the body of their brothers. They carried him back for about five hours. The distance covered was more than four kilometers.

While they were carrying, they periodically listened for drones and hid from them. There were four of us, but it is difficult to carry when the deceased weighs more than 100 kg. As soon as they heard the drone, they ran in different directions, immediately covered themselves with a branch or something else, or hid in a hole.

The author is Yury Mate, head of the communications department of the 141st separate infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine We walked two kilometers like this and met a guy from the 82nd brigade. He was the “three hundredth”. Our compatriot helped him, applied a tourniquet. Then we took his machine gun to make it easier for him to go, and he went ahead of us. He had a wound in his hand and some shrapnel. So he went out with us then.

Finally we got to a point where there were no enemy drones.

“If I had arrived 15 minutes later, the boy would no longer be alive” My next departure was when a wounded man was being taken away. The boys followed him, and I had to pick them up by car. At that time we had a T4 bus. When you are a driver, in such cases it is important to think that you have to return from this departure alive. When I was leaving, I prayed, as it should be, I told myself that I should be alive and healthy, and that I had to get my brothers out.

Our guys, who were carrying this wounded man to the car, wanted to take a smoke break because they were tired. But they still decided to deliver it as soon as possible.

Then it was necessary to drive very quickly, because the wounded person was bleeding profusely. If I had arrived 15 minutes later, this guy would not be alive. We immediately took him to the hospital. And there they said that we made it on time. The hospital was located nearby. And I constantly gave gas while driving. And dear, you understand what it is like there.

“We were going back, then there was a flight in our direction, about 50 meters nearby. It didn’t affect me, I turned around and gave it even more gas…” The third departure, I remember, the wounded man was not very serious. But it had to be taken very quickly. At that position, the enemy burned the dugout. In addition to the wounded, I took away his brothers, because they were also affected a little. They immediately took him to the hospital again. Two drivers always go on such trips, because anything can happen. But this time I had to go myself.

When I arrived at the point, the boys were already waiting for me in the bushes. We were going back, then there was a flight in our direction, about 50 meters nearby. It didn’t affect me, I turned around and gave even more gas to get there faster. Then took them out. Now, as far as I know, everyone is alive and well.

“It will be useful if you prepare well. This will save life on the battlefield” … As a rule, on the front lines, everyone has injuries – hands, legs, eyes. Because enemy mortars and drones work there most often.

I want to say this to recruits who are currently joining the army: if the instructors teach you something, then try, don’t be lazy.

Freebies are not an option here. Obey the commanders. And most importantly, study. Because it will make sense only if you prepare well. This will save your life on the battlefield.