From Auto Painter Abroad to Ukrainian Rescuer: The Story of Oleksandr Sonin

From Auto Painter Abroad to Ukrainian Rescuer: The Story of Oleksandr Sonin

According to ДСНС: Oleksandr Sonin left his former life as an auto painter working overseas and returned to Ukraine when his country needed help most. He is now a rescuer with the specialized emergency unit of the State Emergency Service in the Sumy region. Following the start of the full-scale war on February 24, 2022, he decided to return to Sumy and became an active participant in rescue operations.

Oleksandr Sonin officially became a rescuer in June 2022. He has worked on the aftermath of shelling, including at the site of a missile strike on an energy facility in the Romny district. His duties have also taken him to the town of Buryn, devastated by a tornado, and to the search efforts at an educational institution hit by a strike. It was during this latter operation that he managed to save 89 engravings by Mykola Bondarenko dedicated to the Holodomor.

'I am no longer the man who dreamed of a quiet life abroad. Now I know for certain: the most precious thing is to save a human life. And for that, it's worth enduring everything.' Oleksandr Sonin

Oleksandr described the moment he realized this was his calling, while clearing rubble alongside professional rescuers: 'I lived nearby and was one of the first to arrive. It was in those moments I felt what it truly means to be where it's hardest.'

The Hardships and Challenges of Rescue Work

The work of a rescuer is fraught with difficulty. 'We worked under the threat of repeated strikes, in sweltering heat and bitter cold. There were moments of utter exhaustion, but you push the fatigue aside because you know someone is waiting for your help,' Oleksandr noted. One of the most striking incidents occurred when, while clearing debris, he heard a sound and found a person who was successfully rescued: 'In moments like that, time ceases to exist. There is only you, the rubble, and the person who needs to be pulled out. We saved him. That's when I fully realized: we have no right to make a mistake.'

Oleksandr also emphasized the importance of preserving not just lives, but national memory: 'At first, it seemed everything was lost. But when we lifted the first slab and saw an intact artwork, hope appeared. We managed to save them all from destruction.' Oleksandr Sonin's story is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' 'We Are Different' information campaign, which highlights the heroism of Ukrainians during these challenging times.

His journey from auto painting to emergency service underscores the profound sense of duty many Ukrainians feel amid the ongoing crisis. This personal account illustrates how ordinary citizens have stepped into extraordinary roles to defend their homeland and its heritage. Rescuers like Oleksandr not only save lives in the present but also work to safeguard the cultural memory vital for Ukraine's future.