Ilyushchenkova Anna Leonidova, codename Murka I went to help, because I’m a medic.
Because I got information that it was a tough situation with medics in the Battalion Donbas.
I said if I got some free time that I would go help you. How can I sit in Odesa if kids are dying?
At the time I was helping in the military recruitment office and we heard a soldier had fallen, if I’m not mistaken, in the Battalion Donbas.
His brother ran into the recruiting office, he was hysterical, he was in such a state. And he looked at me and said:
You’re all standing here in your white coats, and they have no one to start an IV. And it was these words that have stayed with me until today.
I understood perfectly well that I had a business…I had a job. I wanted to help and I was able to dedicate some time to go and help.
At 5am we were woken up and told that we were going to retreat. Then sharply: “Get in the vehicles!”
I had a walkie-talkie so, I heard that negotiations were underway, and how some guys said we’d break through.
At first we were just riding along, and then it started…everything went crazy. They were shooting up the first vehicles in the convoy; we were in the middle of a field.
The vegetation was quite far away. Taras was driving so fast over those bumps! I watched as the convoy moves, and as we pass them.
Someone is wounded in the neck, from Dnipro-1, I don’t remember his name. And I reached out to help him but I could only feel the wound.
Later, I realize that he suddenly stopped. He’s screaming: “Everyone out of the vehicles!” I try to get up. It slowly begins dawning on me, that I can’t.
I’m lying here and they’re over there, then Veterok came back for me. It’s thanks to Veterok that I’m alive. Veterok starts to pull me. I scream to him “Leave me! Don’t pull!”
He tells me that he won’t leave me. I lift my right leg, and hear “whizz!” something zipps under my leg.
Veterok: “Oh fuck, you’ve got no legs!” then later: “…no they’re there!” Tons of blood.
Then, I have no idea how much time passed, an armored personnel carrier came by. I was put on a stretcher and loaded into it.
But it’s hotter than hell. I remember turning and raising my head. The entire field was covered with bodies.
On the other side, there’s a bus, I don’t know if the people on it burned to death.
I also remember that as we’re driving Vetrok is sitting and crying. Dryn is crying. It was really hard.
When we finally got there, to their hospital, it was very nice! I don’t understand, I know they were Russians.
Because as we’re leaving, they’re saying: “Why do you need this shit, you’d be better off coming to Baikal, to the lakes, rather than here fighting this war.”
The power of thought, shocking desires, even while I was lying on the ground. I just…I couldn’t believe that I would die.
I was 100% convinced that I just, that I would live. I just knew.