Young, determined, optimistic... When the big war came to the country, a 22-year-old worker of Ingulets GOK did not hesitate to change the profession of an electrician at the Ingulets GOK to a paramedic driver in order to save the lives of soldiers.
During his four years of service, Oleksandr Zhernoklyov went through the hottest front-line directions, more than once putting himself in danger. But even after receiving serious injuries, he did not lose his positive attitude.
“I worked until the last minute at the plant, and then… News about acquaintances was pouring in – this one went to the front, that one went to the front…”, recalls Oleksandr of the first weeks of the war. And the guy could not stand it – he also stood up to defend the country.
He knew what the army was, because he had recently completed his military service. Later, he worked for some time as an electrician in the quarry of the Ingulets GOK. From this position, he went to the front – in April 2022, he became part of the 60th separate Ingulets brigade, which was just being formed.
The skills of a paramedic driver had to be practiced directly in the field, in the realities of war. He has been to all the hot spots of the Kherson and Donetsk regions – Bakhmut, Kupyansk, Chasiv Yar, Lyman… Oleksandr can’t count how many brothers were rescued from the battlefield over the years: "The main thing for me was to bring the wounded... Yes, it was difficult and responsible, but still we tried not to lose our sense of humour, in this way we supported both ourselves and the wounded, whom we delivered to stabilization centres.”
The crew of the evacuation vehicle consists of two people – the driver and the medic. The task was to take the wounded in the vehicle as soon as possible and leave. Usually, Oleksandr’s vehicle could deliver two lying and three or four, or even eight sitting fighters. In addition to speed, it is important to be manoeuvrable, careful and indistinguishable, as the driver says. Therefore, the best time is the so-called “grey” time – when the sun sets and rises, or at night.
The role of the driver during evacuation is not only to drive. With one hand, you need to direct the car, and with the other, you need to give the medic the necessary tools from bags and first aid kits. And that's not all – it is still necessary to constantly support the wounded, especially the seriously injured: talk to them, calm them down, keep in touch.
Fate has been favourable to Olexander all the years. But last year, during one of the combat trips, the defender received as many as three wounds in one day. First, their evacuation vehicle ran into a mine. Together with his brother-in-arms, they took out things and weapons from the damaged car and went on foot. Sasha took a few steps and was blown up on another mine. Barely enough, with help, they almost reached their own, who were at a distance of more than three hundred meters. But their trials did not end: the soldier received the third wound when the enemies dropped explosives from a drone on an evacuation vehicle that came for them:
“I tried to get under some burnt infantry fighting vehicle, and then I realize: I won't be able to hide. I raised my head and saw that the drone was hovering over me. I abruptly began to crawl to the side, and at that moment there was an explosion - and I was thrown to the left... I remember when I got all those injuries, I still remained calm and positive. I heard how our people evacuated me and said about me: “He is seriously wounded, but he is alive!”
As a result, Sashko has a mine-explosive wound, four toes amputated, a traumatic brain injury, numerous gunshot wounds and a crushed elbow joint. Such a "set" did not frighten the guy: from the beginning, he was sure that he would be able to get back on his feet and restore the function of his hand.
On the way to recovery
In the same positive mood, Oleksandr continued to recover – first in Dnipro, then – long-term treatment and rehabilitation in Lviv, where local medical specialists operated on his arm several times and literally assembled his leg. Under the supervision of specialists, he worked on his hand motor skills, restoring the functions of his fingers, and his hand in general. He trained strength and, according to doctors, showed good recovery dynamics.
“I worked with a physical therapist. We worked on the amplitude of movements, so that in the future I could independently serve myself in everyday life, move around. Most of all, I was motivated by the prospect of walking without crutches. I wanted to get back on my feet as soon as possible – and that was the hardest and most desirable thing,” recalls Oleksandr. And although there are still several stages of treatment ahead, the veteran has achieved his goal: he got back on his feet.
While rescuing the wounded, Oleksandr managed to graduate from Kryvyi Rih National University, receiving an online "bachelor's degree" in electrical engineering - he did not betray the electrician specialty he had received at the technical school, which he loves very much. He received his diploma just during his treatment.
The defender returned home with several awards, among which the most significant is the Presidential Order for Personal Bravery “For Courage” of the III degree.
Currently, Oleksandr Zhernoklyov has returned to the Ingulets GOK – he works in the veteran sector, in the archive. He organizes documents, communicates with the demobilized, with the wounded, with people who have lost relatives, helps to find new meanings in life: “The main thing here is not to close yourself off,” he says. – To go to people, to society».
«Catching and releasing is a real pleasure for me!", the veteran shares. – The first thing I did, by the way, after returning home was to go fishing. “I once participated in sports tournaments and plan to do it again. After our Victory, I will definitely do it.”
Although his colleagues and his native workshop welcomed the veteran very warmly and supported him, Olexander Zhernoklyov’s soul still yearns for the front today – to his comrades, commanders, and “his guys”: «Well, how could it be otherwise?! – he wonders. – While the war is going on. Everything is real there. Everyone there is ours».
