Cover us from the skies, Leleka. And we are obliged to finish the mission

Combat medic Olena Yeriomenko was killed in action while shielding a fellow soldier.

Olena Yeriomenko — call sign Leleka — a sister-in-arms from the VETERANKA Movement, was killed in action on June 29, 2025, while on a combat mission in the Sumy region. A service member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a combat medic of the UAV platoon, 3rd mechanized battalion of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura”, Olena gave her life to save others. She absorbed the full impact of an enemy FPV drone strike, shielding her comrade.

She was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage,” III Class. Her family and comrades have petitioned the President of Ukraine to posthumously confer upon Junior Sergeant Olena Yeriomenko the title of Hero of Ukraine:
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We urge everyone to support this petition in memory of Leleka.

Born in Zaporizhzhia, Olena volunteered for the military in August 2022, driven by the will to save lives. After training, she joined the 47th Brigade as a combat medic, serving on the frontlines from day one — first in the infantry, constantly deployed to forward positions.

Over the course of three years, she served on the hottest fronts — Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kursk, and Sumy directions.

Platoon commander Oleksandr (call sign Naum) calls the day she died “cursed.”
FPV drone activity had sharply increased in the Sumy area, and Olena insisted on accompanying every rotation of fighters to the frontline, despite the risks. She knew those moments were the most dangerous — the ones when wounds happen — and she wanted to be there to help. Even if it meant risking her life.

“That day, Olena went out in a pickup with four of our guys,” says Naum. “At the entrance to a village, there’s a muddy pit where we always slow down — otherwise the vehicle might skid. That’s probably where the enemy FPV drone was waiting. The pickup had a good electronic warfare system — but maybe it wasn’t tuned to the right frequency, or the drone used fiber optics.”

“Our guys fired five shots at the drone — but it hit the right side of the vehicle, where Olena was sitting. She took the brunt of the explosion and the shrapnel. Behind her sat another soldier, whom she shielded with her own body. She saved his life.”

Olena was evacuated immediately. She lived for about ten more minutes after the blast. Her comrades provided aid on the spot, but her injuries were fatal.

“That day, the guy sitting beside her didn’t bring his ballistic goggles — so she gave him her spare pair. She always carried extras in case someone needed them. When the drone hit, his helmet got shredded — but where the goggles and helmet covered his face, he was untouched. Everywhere else — minor shrapnel wounds. That was Leleka. Always thinking of others first.”

The soldier she saved underwent several surgeries the next day. His injuries were non-critical, though he suffered hearing loss. He’s currently recovering — physically and emotionally.

Vladyslav, call sign Hulk, recalls meeting Olena in Donetsk in autumn 2023.

“She asked to join the combat team right away. At the time, we were near Orikhiv, living in forest trenches during the counteroffensive. The harsh conditions didn’t faze her.”

“I remember her first day with us. She said, ‘Guys, I’m with you now — you can count on me for anything.’ She checked our medical kits and, within weeks, gave fully restocked ones to every soldier on duty. She came with us on every single mission.”

During a mission near Avdiivka, soldiers needed to dig fallback trenches just 700–800 meters from enemy lines.

“Some of the guys weren’t very experienced, and to boost morale, she went straight to the commander and said: ‘I’ll go with them.’ She didn’t hesitate. She led the team herself.”

Anastasiia Blyshchyk, press officer of the 47th Brigade, met Olena during one of her trips to the front:

“Olena was a true warrior. She gave everything to be useful — and still felt it wasn’t enough. This, while much of the country stays detached from the war.”

“Donbas. Summer. The heat — unbearable, like someone’s holding an open oven to your face. I remember sitting with her, and she treated me to cold okroshka soup. A small thing, but so human.”

Naum says Olena was not only highly competent as a medic — she also had an incredible gift for psychological support.

“In my 17 months of ATO service and nearly four years of full-scale war, I’ve never met anyone like her — not even among other women soldiers. She deliberately chose to serve in the ‘red zone.’ Despite the danger, she believed she had to be where lives needed saving.”

“She wasn’t a rear-line soldier — she craved the front. She understood every mission might be her last. But she still went. To be there, when someone needed her most.”

Olena was the first woman in her UAV platoon when it was formed last year.

“She outperformed many men in bravery, decisiveness, and leadership. That was her nature. She was forged from steel — courageous, strong in spirit, unshakable.”

Naum recalls a mission in January near the Kursk border:

“Two soldiers were badly injured. We were already deep — 20 km into enemy territory. FPV drones were hunting armor. Olena, the driver-mechanic, and a few others took a Bradley IFV to evacuate them.”

“They hit a crater made by a KAB bomb, then an FPV struck the vehicle. Everyone escaped through the hatch. Olena took command. Led them 2 km through shelling to a treeline. They waited all night under fire. By morning — thank God there was fog — she led them out. We sent an APC to retrieve them. She brought everyone back alive.”

Roman, call sign Banker, remembers how Olena rode in the front seat every time troops were rotated in or out:

“She joked the whole way — just to ease the tension. One time, she dropped us off and drove away. Then shelling started. She ran 1.5 km back on foot to check on us. Yelled at us for not responding on the radio — we hadn’t had time to get her to cover.”

Olena saved not just people — but animals too.

“She often joined volunteers on trips to the most dangerous areas — sometimes just days before they were occupied,” Hulk recalls.

“There were many abandoned animals near our base. She loved them. Bought food with her own money. If we were stationed near a village, she’d sneak over during downtime to feed them. If we were in open fields — she’d ask to stop the car, open the door, and leave food by the road. So they’d always have something.”

Even in her darkest moments, Olena found strength to create. She wrote poetry — raw, emotional, and deeply honest. Her journal began with the line:

“You’ll always find time to do everything for everyone — except yourself.”

These words became her life’s credo — one of sacrifice, kindness, and boundless love for people and Ukraine.

Commander Naum:

“I remember her last look. It wasn’t sad. But there was something in her eyes… something troubled. I close my eyes now — and I still see it.”

Press Officer Anastasiia Blyshchyk:

“It’s devastating to lose comrades. But it hits even harder when it’s someone like her… Warm, genuine, charismatic, fierce — that’s how I’ll remember Olena.”

Roman, “Banker”:

“She was an incredible person. Kind-hearted, full of empathy. Always helping everyone.”

Vladyslav, “Hulk”:

“There aren’t many like Olena at the front — so brave, so strong. Especially now. It’s a tremendous loss. People like her never put themselves first. Their priority is survival — of the nation.”

“Cover us from the skies, Leleka. And we are obliged to finish the mission.”