Teenage Combat Medic in Ukraine: Sophia Yanchevska's Story

A Young Volunteer's Journey

• 💡 At 16, Sophia Yanchevska began volunteering in Kyiv after the full-scale invasion, initially assisting with foreign journalists and other tasks.
• 🎯 Before the war, Sophia had ambitious plans, including pilot lessons, studying at Oxford, and pursuing archaeology in Egypt or exploring US national parks.
• ⏳ She views her dreams as "put on hold" rather than lost, understanding that she needs to wait for the war to end.

Frontline Realities and Emotional Toll

• 🩹 As a combat medic, Sophia works with injured soldiers, though her direct involvement is often brief, around 30-40 minutes per patient.
• 🧠 Despite her empathetic nature, she finds it manageable by viewing the work as a task and not dwelling on the emotional impact during duty.
• ⚠️ She acknowledges the difficulty for those who spend longer periods with the injured, performing the same demanding work daily.

Motivation and Perspective on the War

• ✊ Sophia states there is no choice but to defend Ukraine, emphasizing it's a need to prevent living under Russian rule and preserve Ukrainian culture and language.
• 🇷🇺 She contrasts Russia's approach to soldiers as mere numbers with Ukraine's value for its people.
• 💖 She expresses happiness that the war led her to meet her future husband and other significant people, reframing her experiences as a different, but valid, life path.

The Filmmaker's Mission

• 🎥 Director Evgen Matvienko aims to preserve the memory of those defending Ukraine for future generations, seeing it as a crucial mission.
• 💔 The project has faced the tragic loss of some individuals they filmed, underscoring the importance and urgency of their work.
• 🎞️ Matvienko describes their filmmaking process as living alongside the subjects, building trust and sharing experiences, even filming during bombings.

Future Aspirations and Life Philosophy

• 🎓 Sophia is considering a master's in international law but is unsure if she will pursue medicine, which was not her original passion.
• ✈️ She desires "gap years" after the war to travel, spend time with family, and experience ordinary life.
• ✨ Sophia emphasizes that Ukrainians are "life lovers" and not defined by suffering; the war is a part of their lives, not their entirety, and they cherish the small moments.