Latest news with #OlehMahdych
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
"Reminder of what we fight for": Ukrainian soldier takes toy from destroyed playground on combat missions
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways A Ukrainian soldier carries a teddy bear, which he found at a destroyed playground in Donetsk Oblast, with him as a talisman. Source: Ukrainska Command of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Details: The soldier, who carries the toy behind his back, says he found it at a destroyed playground in Donetsk Oblast. "Among the rubble, empty swings and silence, there was a little bear. I took it with me. I couldn't leave it then. Since then, it has always been with me: silent, keeping still, looking forward," the soldier said. The toy reminds him of who and what he is fighting for, and this teddy bear gives him hope that children will soon return to playgrounds again. "During the exercises, the soldiers not only practice complex battle scenarios, but also carry with them something that is important to each of them personally. Because this fight is not only about equipment and weapons," the command of the Special Forces added. Background: In April, Oleh Mahdych, a crew commander from the Hospitallers medical volunteer battalion, apologised to Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) after boarding a clean Intercity train with muddy combat boots while returning from the frontline. Ukrainian Railways responded to the soldier's post in the comments, saying that his boots were a symbol of "a war that gives us peace". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ukrainian soldier apologises for muddy boots on train; railway responds with touching message
Oleh Mahdych, a crew commander from the Hospitallers medical volunteer battalion, has apologised to Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) after boarding a clean Intercity train with muddy combat boots while returning from the frontline. Source: Details: "These are the feet of a person who just a few hours ago was walking through the combat zone. And now he's riding in a clean Intercity carriage. And he feels so ashamed… Sorry, Ukrzaliznytsia," the soldier wrote, adding that he would clean his boots more carefully next time. Ukrainian Railways responded to the soldier's post in the comments, saying that his boots were a symbol of "a war that gives us peace". "You apologise? And we bow our heads. Because these boots are a symbol. They carry the imprint of the war that gives us peace. They bear the earth you protected. We don't need clean soles. We need living Heroes. And if you are on an Intercity train – it means we did our part. We brought you to peace. Even if just for a few hours, even for a day – but to peace. You don't need to thank us. We thank you. Every day. With every journey," the railway company wrote. Oleh Mahdych said the comment brought tears to his eyes. "I'm sitting here, reading your comment. Took me three minutes to get through it. Because after every sentence, I looked out the window. Hiding my tears. And then a guy from the café came up. And offered me all kinds of treats. For free. As a thank you to the soldiers. Damn... What are you doing to my nervous system," he replied. Background: Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian Railways had created a special ticket reserve for service members and their families. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!