The shots rained down – then the 23-year-old had to perform first aid on himself

– There were three of them, and there were three of us. One of our men was shot in the neck, Stanislav tells TV 2.

His comrade died from his injuries.

This is how the 23-year-old soldier opens the story of when he ended up in close combat in Lysychansk, south-east Ukraine, four months into the war.

During a civilian evacuation mission, he suddenly came face to face with the enemy.

Fight for life

After Stanislav’s comrade was shot dead, the shots continued to hail.

– There was one more from their side who shot. He hit me in the foot, then I continued shooting before he hit me in the arm.

Then the second surviving Ukrainian soldier threw a grenade at the Russians. The grenade killed one Russian, according to Stanislav.

The 23-year-old refused to give up.

– I didn’t think much about myself, or that I was scared. But it was scary that my daughter could be left without a father, my wife without her husband, and my mother without her son.

– But I wasn’t going to give up. Because whatever happens, I want to come home alive and I want to fight until they (the Russians, editor’s note) leave Ukraine, says Stanislav about the attack.

In the nearly year-long war, there are countless stories like the one Stanislav tells.

according to official figures from the Ukrainian government in December, they estimate that up to 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives in the war so far.

In June, when Stanislav and his fellow soldiers ended up in battle, they believe that between 100-200 soldiers died daily.

Coincidences meant that the 23-year-old did not become part of the statistics.

– I was the only one

After Stanislav was shot, he was pulled to safety by a fellow soldier.

But they were alone on the battlefield, so Stanislav had to give himself first aid.

– It was painful, he says.

For two hours he waited to be evacuated. When he finally got into the green zone, and thus into safety, he was met by several injured people.

The vast majority had splinter injuries.

– I was the only one who had gunshot wounds and who survived, says the 23-year-old.

Bomber attack

Despite extensive injuries to his hand and one leg, he continued to fight on.

But just over six months later, he was evacuated from Ukraine. When TV 2 meets Stanislav, he is on board a converted SAS plane together with 12 other Ukrainian patients.

In the hospital bed next to Stanislav lies the 30-year-old soldier Oleh. Several metal rods stick out of the leg to hold his knee in place.

The two soldiers are being evacuated as a result of joint European cooperation.

The Ukrainian authorities have sent a list of patients in advance, and what treatment they need. The list is then reviewed by health personnel from countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

It is then decided which country will accept which patients.

The 30-year-old has been a soldier for the past five years. But in October it was over.

– I was injured in a bomb-thrower attack, Oleh tells TV 2.

– I get adrenaline from it

It took some time for the pain to spread through his body.

– But after the adrenaline had worn off, I started to feel it.

The 30-year-old was evacuated away from the ruins and transported to safety. But the injuries were extensive, and despite the fact that he has received treatment in Ukraine, it was not enough.

It has become Tuesday 10 January. The day before, Stanislav was evacuated out of Ukraine and to Poland.

Now he will board a plane for the very first time ever.

– I like it. It gives me adrenaline!

Both Oleh and Stanislav would prefer that they could still fight in Ukraine.

– Yes, that is my wish. After all, I also have my family there, and it is my country. Good away, but best at home, says Stanislav.

Believe in victory

Although the family of the 23-year-old refuses for him to return to fight again, he is determined.

– They understand that if I don’t want to, the second and third don’t want to, then who will defend the country?

The two soldiers both believe that Ukraine has a good chance of winning over Russia.

– With help from our friends, we can do it.

As of 11 January, Norway has contributed to the evacuation of 631 Ukrainian patients. Over 150 of these have been sent to hospitals around Norway. The rest is transported to countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

– The war is getting closer

On Tuesday’s flight, Health and Care Minister Ingvild Kjerkol, as the first minister, got to see for himself how European cooperation works.

– It gives a completely different impression and see how well coordinated this operation is. The fact that we manage to contribute to the European community with such an important resource is greatly appreciated.

When the SAS plane landed in Poland, Kjerkol was met by his Polish colleague, Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski.

– He used the opportunity to thank Norway for this shared resource.

Kjerkol also got to talk to several of the evacuees. Including Oleh.

– It is clear that the war moves closer when you meet those who come from Ukraine with illness, those who need treatment, but also those with war injuries. I experienced that they felt well taken care of, and had a look of gratitude in their eyes.

NOK 37.4 million

The 38 flights so far have had an estimated cost of NOK 37.4 million. However, Norway only covers approximately 9.3 million. The rest is paid by the EU, according to the Ministry of Health and Care.

Currently, the agreement runs until April 2023.

– What is stopping Norway from continuing?

– It is no more complicated than the fact that the agreement we have expires in April. You also have to look at what happens next after that. And I don’t have that answer right now. But it is obvious that it is a very important resource.

– I wanted to fight on

Up at Gardermoen military airport, two ambulances are ready on the airstrip. Oleh will be transported to Oslo University Hospital for further treatment.

There, among other things, he will get a knee prosthesis. The 30-year-old does not know when he can return to Ukraine, to his wife and the rest of his family.

– I wanted to fight on, but… I have to fight on like this, says Oleh as he looks down at the metal rods in his leg.