Porto-Franco City

A police lieutenant began his career in 2015, drawn to the profession since childhood. His older brother, also serving in the police, was his inspiration.

Over ten years, Edward served in various police departments, including security and criminal investigations. He faced the full-scale Russian invasion while working as a detective in the Odessa police department.

«From the first days, our focus was on detecting sabotage groups and addressing serious crimes that had emerged. For instance, we once apprehended a group of masked armed individuals trying to smuggle weapons into a hotel in Odessa. We acted swiftly to prevent a tragedy,» he recalls.

In 2023, Edward joined a police task force sent to the liberated city of Kherson. There, he patrolled the streets, identified enemy groups, and assisted in evacuating civilians.

«We often worked under enemy fire. Although we got used to it, it was still frightening, especially during the evacuation of large families, as we didn’t know if we could get everyone to safety,» he shares.

The following year, Edward decided to join the police's shooting battalion, where he found a new purpose as a combat medic.

«Among all the fields of work, medicine interested me the most. Now it serves as a tool for saving lives in war,» he notes.

The 28-year-old operative underwent necessary training and became a combat medic for the police brigade. He also teaches tactical medicine to comrades, covering everything from theory to the evacuation of the wounded. Mastering tourniquets, occlusive dressings, nasopharyngeal tubes, and bandages, along with strict adherence to MARCH and PAWS protocols, is vital for survival in combat conditions.

When asked what this war means to him as a policeman, Edward responds:

«It’s still service, just on a different front. A policeman is always about protection: once we caught criminals, now we hold back the enemy. The mission remains the same – to be where one is needed the most. And let my tourniquets gather dust, not blood.»