"Angel of the Troops": 29-Year-Old Paramedic Killed Near Bakhmut During Evacuation of Wounded

Ukrainska Pravda
Yana "Yara" Rykhlitska's friends and acquaintances say that she did everything for the sake of victory, risked her life to help the wounded. (photo: Vadym Pavlov)

A 29-year-old volunteer and paramedic with the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Mechanised Brigade, Yana "Yara" Rykhlitska, has been killed near the city of Bakhmut.

Yana died during the evacuation of the wounded – the ambulance she was moving in came under fire.

The tragedy was reported by Yana's family and friends.

Yana used to work in an insurance company before the war. After the full-scale invasion began, she volunteered, helping civilians and the military. Then she voluntarily joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces and worked as a medic at the stabilisation centre in the city of Bakhmut.

"A stabilisation point is a place where the wounded are bandaged and prepared for a long journey to the medics. So that they [the wounded] make it. I can't even comprehend the flow of wounded that was in Bakhmut. However, when I asked how it was going, [Yana] replied: "having fun, in one piece yet". [It was] a few hours before their medical evacuation vehicle came under fire," writes Yana's friend, Tetiana Zenart.

Yana’s friends and acquaintances say that she did everything for the sake of victory, risked her life to help the wounded.

"This is a dark day for all the tactical medics, tactical instructors and soldiers she helped. We will take revenge. Calmly, with cold rage inside, we are doing our job," volunteer Valerii Bahynskyi writes.

Vadym Pavlov, editor of a local Vinnytsia news outlet and a volunteer, also expressed his condolences over Yana's death.

"I met her a couple of times. At the front, she was called the 'Angel of the troops'. Rest in Peace," he says.

The paramedic's comrades posted a photo of a shell, which was labelled: "For Yara from Kholodnyi Yar".

Yana's parents refused to have a fundraising organised for themselves and urged everyone to donate to the needs of the Armed Forces in their daughter's memory.

"This is the will of Yana's parents. It is the last fundraising of Yana, who taught us that there are no impossible goals. She often signed her fundraisings with ‘for revenge’," says Tetiana Zenart.

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