On October 23rd, 2023, Ukrainian Army combat medic Nadia Smuk, was killed while saving the lives of other Ukrainian soldiers. In Bukovyna, western Ukraine, she is laid to rest. “Sincere condolences to family and friends” – Mykola Katerynchuk, the head of the Kadubowets territorial community.

Nadia was born in 1983. She graduated from Yuriy Fedkovich Chernivtsi Pedagogical College, was a teacher. For some time she lived and worked in Warsaw.

She was an active member of the Ukrainian Women’s Club, which was created in May 2014 at the initiative of the “Our Choice” fund (from 2022 – the Ukrainian House fund). She participated in master classes, went on working visits with the club.

“For some reason, I immediately remembered Nadya. Despite her busy work schedule, she still found time for development – and it was precisely such meetings at the Club that she was most interested in,” recalls Tetyana Levinska, a member of the board of the Ukrainian House Foundation and the founder of the Ukrainian Women’s Club in Warsaw. “She went to the Ukrainian Women’s Club when this club started.

I remember that we took part in Martyna Kvyatkovska’s workshops together – “How to implement an interesting event?”. I remember that Nadya held a meeting that she came up with…”, journalist and radio presenter of the Polish Radio for Ukraine Yana Stempniewicz shared her memories.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Nadiya returned home to Bukovyna, where she worked as a Polish language tutor, as well as a teacher in the nearby village of Kulivtsi.

After the start of the Russian invasion aggression, she volunteered. In July 2022, she voluntarily joined the Ukrainian Army, as a senior combat medic. She provided first aid to wounded soldiers, instructed servicemen in self-help, and transported patients to hospitals.

“She liked to help, she liked to cook, she made pancakes and salads for the soldiers. When I asked, she always said she was safe, that it was hard, but worth it. The boys are trying to make her feel comfortable there as a girl. She loved animals very much.

She even had a pigeon named Paolo, which she tamed and then looked after a dog at the front. She said that they are well trained in the army, that she even helps her friends who are doing worse, and that she is very needed there,” said her friend Martyna Bykovska. Already at the front, Nadiya maintained contact with the Ukrainian Women’s Club, which made a significant contribution to Ukraine’s victory.

“I can’t believe it… Nadia was a wonderful person. We met when she joined the Ukrainian Women’s Club and was actively involved in it. We communicated quite recently, because we were handing over medicines,” Myroslava Keryk, head of the Ukrainian House in Warsaw, wrote on Facebook.

(translated from Ukrainian)

https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3783599-pamati-vcitelki-bojovoi-medikini-nadii-smuk.html

https://x.com/ukrinform/status/1721786755534229772?s=46

by BostonLesbian