Heroes Without Weapons
For over 20 years, Volodymyr Khodanych has served as a rescuer with the Special Purpose Emergency Rescue Squad. His career, spanning 20.5 years, has seen him save approximately ten lives in situations ranging from natural disasters to active combat zones. Rescue services in Ukraine operate under extreme pressure, often being the first responders to both natural and man-made catastrophes.
One of his most memorable rescues occurred in the Uzhhorod region during a flood.
“The call came around midnight: two people were stranded in trees in a flooded area. The water from the Latorytsia River rose in minutes, arriving without warning. We took a boat, but on-site it was useless—bushes, a strong current. The victims were almost eighty meters away. It was dark, cold. You could hear shouts, but the sound echoed… After consulting, we chose another approach. I had to swim to them, pulling a rope and a life vest. The current kept pushing me sideways; I had to fight for every meter. When I reached the men, they were sitting on branches, water up to their waists, freezing in wet clothes… One was in critical condition and needed immediate evacuation,” recalls Volodymyr Khodanych.
His first deployment to the war-torn east was in 2022 to the Kharkiv region, specifically Balakliia. He later completed two more rotations in frontline areas in 2025.
“As challenging as the rescue in Zakarpattia was, nothing compares to working in frontline regions. War is the most terrible thing. The first eastern deployment was in 2022. Then came two rotations in 2025. Those missions are etched deepest in my memory: rescuing people after missile and drone strikes, working under the constant threat of another hit,” the rescuer shares.
Volodymyr also described a successful rescue following a shelling: “In a moment of quiet, we heard voices. That’s when everything inside you tightens, but hope appears. We found a baby in a stroller, alive. A married couple, too. We extracted the woman first. The man was pinned by a slab. We used jacks, carefully lifting the concrete. When we pulled him out, we applied a tourniquet immediately and handed him to the medics—only then could we breathe.”
According to Volodymyr, one never grows accustomed to such experiences: “You don’t get used to it. You just learn with time to hold yourself together. Every call-out is different, but the mission is always the same—to save and to help.” Volodymyr Khodanych and his colleagues continue their vital mission, saving lives under the most complex and dangerous conditions.
Volodymyr Khodanych's story illustrates the heroism and courage of rescuers who face perilous situations daily. His experience underscores the critical importance of training and professionalism in emergencies, especially during war and natural disasters. These accounts serve as a powerful reminder of the value of human life and the indispensable role of rescue workers, who often risk their own lives to aid those in greatest need.