On Christmas Day, December 25, at dawn they set out to pick up a wounded grandfather from Konstantynivka, Donetsk region. On the way they stopped to help other volunteers who were involved in an accident, and joined with them. About half a kilometer from the address a drone appeared above the vehicle. This is how they describe the attack by the Russian army during the evacuation of the volunteers. As a result of the blast, a volunteer from Kharkiv named Vyacheslav Ilychenko died, two more volunteers were injured. That same day they returned to the dangerous city to retrieve their teammate’s body and the vehicle.

As Bohdan Zuyakov, who that day was driving the evacuation vehicle, explained, in the morning of December 25 they were heading to Konstantynivka to evacuate a wounded man from the city amid heavy shelling by the Russian army. About 500 meters from the address they noticed a drone.

“About 20-30 meters from the car it lifted off. I started braking and shouting: “Jump out of the car, drone!” I managed to jump out at the last moment. I see Slavik also reaching for the door as well. I jumped – at that moment an explosion. I stood up – seemed fine, Edik – also without signs of blood. Slavik – did not have time to react. A hit to the head, he died instantly.”

After this they were picked up by the military and taken to a hospital in Druzhkivka. There it became known that Bohdan received injuries to his back and leg from shrapnel, Eduard Melnikov – injuries to the leg.

“The drone had a cumulated charge; it hit my seat and the door frame through the roof. When I jumped out, shrapnel hit my leg, also bruised my back. The back hurts a lot. Yesterday two fragments were removed; the others remain, I think they will stay there. Edik has a wound in his right leg; that fragment couldn’t be removed properly, it went in deep, and cutting it out, doctors said, would be inappropriate. He’ll also live with fragments. Barotrauma – it’s like ‘good evening’, standard – my head still hums and hurts.”

Volunteer Bohdan Zuyakov from Kramatorsk was sheltering and remained an active participant in evacuations in Donetsk region. After treatment they returned to the site of the attack to retrieve the fallen teammate, along with the vehicle.

“After leaving the hospital, once we were patched up, we understood that we could not leave our comrade behind – we had to fetch him. We called a friend who answered to come to Konstantynivka, although that day there were a lot of enemy drones there. We reached the car, which happened to be moving, and we pulled it out under its own power”

– Bohdan Zuyakov

Update: the fallen Vyacheslav was a Kharkiv volunteer, known to Bohdan only by reputation – their teams worked on different directions. That day he asked to join the evacuation after Bohdan and Eduard had pulled their vehicle out, which due to ice on the road to Konstantynivka had been involved in an accident.

Recovery and Return to Volunteer Work

After receiving medical care, Bohdan and Eduard returned to the site of the attack to retrieve the fallen, despite intense drone shelling. They managed to evacuate Vyacheslav together with the vehicle.

“They understood that they could not leave their comrade behind – they had to fetch him. They called a friend who answered to come to Konstantynivka, although that day there were many enemy drones there. We reached the car, which turned out to be moving, and we pulled it out under its own power”

– Bohdan Zuyakov

Update: the fallen Vyacheslav was a Kharkiv volunteer, known to Bohdan in absentia – their teams worked on different fronts. That day he asked to join the evacuation after Bohdan and Eduard had pulled their vehicle out, which due to icy conditions on the way to Konstantynivka had crashed.

Back to Work and Continued Volunteer Efforts

Bohdan notes that this was the most serious incident in their team, though drone strikes nearby and concussions had occurred before. “The volunteer spirit did not break, but I understand we won’t be driving into Konstantynivka anymore, as it’s too dangerous. Vehicles break down, drones spare no one, any vehicle, any person – under the fire. We drove only for urgent requests: the wounded, those who cannot leave on their own,” he says.

Now Bohdan is recovering from his injuries. The car will likely have to be written off – the cost of repairs after a drone strike is almost that of a new car, but his team plans to keep helping where needed. He expresses hope to return to action and continue supporting people in difficult situations in Donetsk, and that safety and frontline cooperation are preserved thanks to the work and efforts of volunteers.