The story of a combat medic who saves the lives of boys in the Kharkiv region

Ivan Melets is the same age as Ukraine’s independence. He is also an anesthesiologist at the Saint Panteleimon Hospital in Lviv. Today, Ivan saves lives in the war.

His story was told in the Ministry of Health.

Ivan Melets began his medical career in 2009. He graduated from Bogomolets University, Department of Training of Doctors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After studying, he signed a contract and went to serve in the army. With the beginning of the war with the Russian Federation in 2014, he studied more and more.

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“Back then, I didn’t have enough medical practice, but in order to save others and survive myself, I had to learn quickly.” – recalls the doctor.

Photo: Ministry of Health of Ukraine

For 5 years, he studied with experienced military doctors in large hospitals near the front line – in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

After completing the contract, he worked in civilian hospitals in Kyiv and Lviv. But it was only 2 years. With the beginning of a full-scale war, he volunteered – and already became the captain of the medical brigade.

Ivan says that this war is completely different from what he has seen before. You have to work close to the contact line – in basements, abandoned houses, etc.

“We can never know how long the shelling of our positions will last. Sometimes there is a lull for a few hours, and then there is a barrage of fire that does not stop for days. And we still have to pick up the wounded.”– says Ivan.

He says that there are a lot of deep and severe wounds on the face and body, torn and crushed limbs. But he and other doctors are doing everything possible to save the boys’ lives in big hospitals.

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In Ivan’s field hospital, surgeons, paramedics, and junior medical staff work, there is appropriate equipment, and the mini-resuscitation unit even has ventilators with monitors.

At the same time, the doctor reminds us of hopeless cases. Such was the case with his brother.

“There was a flight near the medical center. One of our men was on the spot and a shrapnel tore the chest with lungs, stomach and internal organs, the area from the right inguinal artery to the thigh. He died of massive bleeding. And we couldn’t help it.” – says Ivan sadly.

He also says it’s important to camouflage properly and consider the terrain. No less important is the emotional state.

Many wounded defenders pass through Ivan’s brigade every month. In order to survive and save others, here you have to live by the “laws of war”.

“Neither stress nor fear should affect you. Every mistake is someone’s life”he emphasizes.

Ivan Melets is currently fighting in the Kharkiv direction. His wife and three-year-old daughter are waiting for him at home.

Earlier we talked about why combat medics are prohibited from rescuing the wounded.

Read also: “It was the first working day”: memories of a doctor who died as a result of Russian shelling of a hospital in Kherson