DONBAS, Ukraine — In the heart of the ongoing conflict in Donbas, Ukraine, the 3rd Assault Brigade's combat medics risk their lives daily to evacuate and provide critical medical care to injured soldiers on the frontlines. It is a brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces formed in 2022. The brigade, established in November 2022, was a merger of the Azov SSO, Special Operations Forces units which were created by former Azov Battalion veterans. In a recent assault near Bakhmut frontier, as the Battalion initiated an attack, the brigade's medics and drivers, fueled by a sense of urgency after hours of careful radio monitoring, swiftly mobilized.
The journey to the frontline was fraught with danger. Undeterred, the medics faced the grim reality of wounded soldiers upon reaching the frontline position. With incredible skill and speed, they administered vital medical care, demonstrating an unwavering determination to save lives with every heartbeat.
Successfully treating and stabilizing the wounded, the brigade now confronted the equally perilous journey back to the stabilization point and then to their base. Braving the constant threat posed by Russian forces, they skillfully navigated hazardous terrain, ensuring the safe transport of their injured cargo for further treatment.
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: A driver of a military ambulance from 3rd Assault Brigade on duty after a call to rescue soldiers near Bakhmut frontline during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: The body of a soldier killed during the Ukrainian counter-offensive rescued by 3rd assoult brigade in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - July 11, 2023: The body of a died soldier carried out of the M113 and carefully and placed in a body bag, zipped up near Bakhmut frontline during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine, on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto Donbas UKRAINE
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 23: Combat medic Bentezhna smokes a cigarette inside the ambulance while the 3rd Assault Brigade of Ukraine's Armed Forces moves to frontline to rescue soldiers with a military vehicle in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - July 11, 2023: Wounded soldier has been evacuated by a tank to reach the stabilization center near Bakhmut frontline during a counter-offensive. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto Donbas UKRAINE
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11:Combat medics take care of injured soldiers inside the military ambulance of 3rd Assoult brigade near Bakhmut frontline during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: Wounded soldier in the stabilization point during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023.
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: A wounded soldier undergoes surgery at the stabilization point to extract remnants from his back in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023.
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: A soldier from 3rd Assault Brigade looks at his phone and waits for a duty call during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: Bentezhna (23), smokes exale e-cigarettes waiting. She is a member of combat medics from 3rd Assault brigade of Ukraine's Armed Forces, the only woman in the group, is on the frontlines, risking her life daily to evacuate and provide critical medical care to injured soldiers. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: A driver of a military ambulance from 3rd Assault Brigade on duty after a call to rescue soldiers near Bakhmut frontline during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: The body of a soldier killed during the Ukrainian counter-offensive rescued by 3rd assoult brigade in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - July 11, 2023: The body of a died soldier carried out of the M113 and carefully and placed in a body bag, zipped up near Bakhmut frontline during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine, on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto Donbas UKRAINE
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 23: Combat medic Bentezhna smokes a cigarette inside the ambulance while the 3rd Assault Brigade of Ukraine's Armed Forces moves to frontline to rescue soldiers with a military vehicle in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - July 11, 2023: Wounded soldier has been evacuated by a tank to reach the stabilization center near Bakhmut frontline during a counter-offensive. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto Donbas UKRAINE
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11:Combat medics take care of injured soldiers inside the military ambulance of 3rd Assoult brigade near Bakhmut frontline during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: Wounded soldier in the stabilization point during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023.
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: A wounded soldier undergoes surgery at the stabilization point to extract remnants from his back in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023.
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: A soldier from 3rd Assault Brigade looks at his phone and waits for a duty call during a counter-offensive in Donbas, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto
DONBAS, UKRAINE - JULY 11: Bentezhna (23), smokes exale e-cigarettes waiting. She is a member of combat medics from 3rd Assault brigade of Ukraine's Armed Forces, the only woman in the group, is on the frontlines, risking her life daily to evacuate and provide critical medical care to injured soldiers. Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto