Ukrainian Commander’s Daring Rescue in Kharkiv Earns Top Military Honor

POLICY WIRE — Kharkiv Region, Ukraine — Ukrainian commander Vladyslav Polskyi, a 29-year-old former science teacher, made a perilous decision to save two wounded soldiers stranded on a battlefield. One soldier was trapped on a land drone disabled by a Russian strike.

Polskyi, observing the scene from his command post 15 km away, quickly jumped into his pickup truck and raced towards the ‘kill zone’, an area fraught with mines and enemy drones. Undeterred by the danger, he drove without helmet or body armor.

‘If it had happened to me, I would’ve wanted them to come take me away, and not just leave me there,’ Polskyi recounted his August 15 mission. His courageous act not only saved the lives of the two soldiers but also captured the nation’s attention.

In recognition of his bravery, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Polskyi the Hero of Ukraine, the country’s highest military honor, during Independence Day celebrations in Kyiv.

‘People must be taken care of. Thank you, Vladyslav!’ Zelenskyy said as he presented the award.

The incident highlighted the limitations of battlefield technology. The land drone, used to evacuate the wounded, was struck by a Russian drone, exposing the soldiers to further danger. Despite the risks, Polskyi managed to load the wounded soldiers onto his truck and escape the area, evading incoming Russian drones.

Reflecting on the rescue, Polskyi remembered the fear in the soldiers’ eyes and his own. ‘But you need to know how to control it,’ he said.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)