WAR IN UKRAINE: Pretty Ukrainian Soldier Who Saves Lives On Front Line As Medic Says War Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Story By:  Ana MarjanovicSub-EditorMichael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

This attractive Ukrainian soldier who is volunteering as a medic to save the lives of her fellow countrymen on the front lines has said that the war is “not a sprint, but a marathon”.

Kira Neczaj is reportedly volunteering for the Ukrainian army in a medical battalion in the eastern part of the country. She regularly posts snaps of herself on social media, with netizens complimenting her for her service to her country as well as her looks.

Neczaj, who first started volunteering in 2014 and has since trained as a paramedic and a tactical medical instructor, often notches up hundreds of likes and has even reportedly had some of her photos go viral, landing her in the Ukrainian papers.

Kira Neczaj volunteers for the Ukrainian army in the medical battalion in the East of Ukraine. (@knechaj/Newsflash)

She is quoted in Ukrainian media outlet Telegraf as saying that “It seems to me that this war is not a sprint, but a marathon.”

She added: “We need to understand that it is a long time. I often notice, especially in Kyiv, that sometimes people start forgetting what is happening in the east or south. The war continues and it’s really long but I believe that victory will be ours!”

Neczaj joined the Hospitallers Medical Battalion in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February. She is reportedly working on the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

The “Hospitallers” are a Ukrainian volunteer medical battalion that was formed in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea. It operates thanks to volunteers and thanks to private donations.

Kira Neczaj volunteers for the Ukrainian army in the medical battalion in the East of Ukraine. (@knechaj/Newsflash)

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 118th day of the invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 21st June, Russia had lost about 34,100 personnel, 1,496 tanks, 3,606 armoured combat vehicles, 752 artillery units, 239 multiple launch rocket systems, 98 air defence systems, 216 warplanes, 181 helicopters, 611 drones, 137 cruise missiles, 14 warships, 2,537 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 59 units of special equipment.

Russia has conducted an anti-ship missile exercise in the Baltic Sea amid escalating tensions with NATO member Lithuania after the country blocked the transit of goods to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Ukrainian forces have said that they have been successfully thwarting fresh Russian attempts to advance in the Kharkiv region of north-eastern Ukraine.

Kira Neczaj volunteers for the Ukrainian army in the medical battalion in the East of Ukraine. (@knechaj/Newsflash)

And Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, has urged locals in the Kherson region to evacuate the area so as to help Ukrainian forces “deoccupy” the area.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Ukraine’s southern frontline as Ukrainian forces mount a counter attack in the region to push back Russian troops.

The new head of the British Army, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, has told British forces that they need to be ready to face Russia on the battlefield and said the British Army now needs to be capable of defeating Russia.

United States President Joe Biden has promised Kyiv another USD 1 billion in security assistance and weapons. And US General Mark Milley says Russia has lost around 20 to 30 per cent of its armoured force during the ongoing invasion.

Kira Neczaj volunteers for the Ukrainian army in the medical battalion in the East of Ukraine. (@knechaj/Newsflash)

President Zelenskyy said that a “historic week” has begun as Kyiv awaits a decision from Brussels regarding its EU candidate status.

Zelenskyy, speaking to the African Union on Monday, 20th June, also accused Russia of holding Africa “hostage” over grain and fertiliser shortages.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi held talks in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with President Zelenskyy on 16th June.

Former Russian president and staunch Vladimir Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev has derided French, German and Italian leaders visiting the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as “fans of frogs, liverwurst and spaghetti”.

Kira Neczaj volunteers for the Ukrainian army in the medical battalion in the East of Ukraine. (@knechaj/Newsflash)

The European Parliament adopted a resolution recommending that the European Union grant Ukraine the status of candidate country for EU membership. Some 438 MEPs voted in favour of the resolution, with 65 voting against and 94 abstaining.

Independent Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov has auctioned off his Nobel Peace Prize medal for USD 103.5 million, with all the proceeds going to help Ukrainian refugees.

Muratov, 60, is the editor-in-chief of Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which he co-founded in 1993. He has been a vocal advocate for the freedom of the press and argued that it needs to remain independent from state influence.