An angel who saves the wounded: what is known about Taira, who was released from captivity

Taira, a Ukrainian doctor and volunteer Julia Paevska, who was captured by the occupiers in Mariupol, was released. Even after the start of the war in Donbass in 2014, she helped the wounded, and after the full-scale invasion of Taira could not stand aside and watch the Russian army bomb Ukraine.

She has the title of People’s Hero of Ukraine, the award for humanitarian participation in the anti-terrorist operation, many awards from various units of the Armed Forces. In Mariupol, Julia helped those who were wounded during shelling and bombing by Russian troops.

– Hold on. Mariupol is Ukraine. I embrace everyone, – Julia Paevska wrote on social networks on March 10.

Photo: Julia Paevska

A volunteer in Mariupol was looking for volunteers to evacuate the wounded, who were taken to the helicopter pad, said 23-year-old paramedic from Mariupol Serhiy Chornobryvets. And in mid-March, the occupiers captured her.

– We went to the hospital, took the wounded to the helipad. Taira is the best. She said that we are becoming real men. She motivated us to hold on to the end. And we held on, – he admitted.

Journalists received a video taken by Julia Paevska’s chest camera before she was taken prisoner. The recording shows a paramedic rescuing Ukrainian defenders and showing the destroyed Mariupol, which was bombed by the Russian army.

Now Julia Paevska is mostly known by the call sign Taira and the name of the unit of military medics-volunteers Taira’s Angels, which she created. Later, the paramedic decided to sign a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to help people in need.

Photo: Julia Paevska

According to her, the most important thing is the understanding that has emerged between the army and volunteers, so the interaction has become easier.