In Lviv, military training takes place on the territory of the shooting range, located on the street Yeroshenka, 34. Iryna Shpak and Iryna Tykhenko, aged 24 and 28, told why they chose to join the training and whether they plan to join the territorial defence.
The women, who work for IT recruiting firm SkillReveal.io, explain that their decision was motivated by a possible Russian invasion. If the war breaks out or an emergency arises, they want to be useful to society and the state and believe that participation in training is especially reassuring amid the ongoing informational hysteria through media.
«I’ve never had such training. I didn’t know how to use a weapon and had medical courses long ago at school. I understand that I can be useful at least in providing first aid,» – says Iryna Tykhenko.
Read also: How businesses in Lviv react to the news about a possible Russian invasion
According to Valerii Kurko, the head of the Territorial Defense Forces, a very high percentage of deaths among the military comes from blood loss, so it’s important to be able to provide timely medical care.
Initially, the girls admit, it was scary to take up arms.
«We did it for the first time. Before that, we had never even visited a shooting range. It was quite exciting. On the third of the four shots on the shooting range, we were frightened to realize that we were armed. In particular, while shooting you feel the recoil and understand how to behave, follow all the rules,» – Iryna Shpak explains.
Read also: How Lviv is preparing for defense: interview with chief of Lviv’s territorial defence unit
According to the women, they were taught to shoot from Ukrainian-made weapons used by the military on the front lines. In addition, the instructors also speak’ about explosives and teach first aid here, especially how to treat the wounded, how to properly apply the tourniquet. These are probably the most necessary skills in the conditions of shelling. The task of the first aider is to prevent a person from dying.
«We had a teacher who had undergone medical preparation. He helped us recall and understand a lot, showed everything in practice. In particular, where exactly to apply the tourniquet, what are its types, how to use them and what can be done to save the life of the wounded. During the medical training, we were also told about various life situations. [For instance,] when a person was injured and had severe bleeding, a tourniquet should be applied first. Then, we should not think about bringing infection to the wound, but need to stop the bleeding as soon as possible,» – Iryna Tykhenko recalls.
The Lviv women say it’s interesting because they weren’t taught these rules at school. Without attending medical courses, they would not know exactly where to apply the tourniquet, how high should it be put, whether to bandage the wound and so on. In addition, it turned out that applying the tourniquet causes more pain than the wound itself.
«We were immediately told that we must be prepared for a situation where the wounded will tell us everything he thinks about us, because the wound will hurt even more after applying the tourniquet. We were also told how much time we would have to put it on. And it gets scary when you realize that a person can bleed from a carotid artery, and you only have 30 seconds to stop it,» – one of the women says.
Read also: First aid courses in Lviv. Locations and prices
Lviv residents assure that the training in which they participated is timely, but they cannot say what will happen next and whether they will join the ranks of the defence.
«I am still thinking about it. This decision is difficult to make alone, although I’m not afraid of it. In the event of an invasion, it is military training that hardens the morale. I will be ready at least morally and physically… Here, the body itself will tell you what to do and how to do it,» – Iryna Shpak says.
If someone is hesitant about whether to take part in military training, the women advise taking this opportunity, because we can’t know what the situation will be in the country in a week or a month. Still, it’s better than hiding in the basement. The ability to provide first aid and use weapons is now very important.
On the advice of girls, you should dress warmly before going to the training.
«When I first went to these classes, I was extremely excited. I imagined them differently. Next time, be sure to take thermal underwear, winter shoes and mega-warm socks. There is really nothing to worry about, because everything is explained very well there. Everything is so vital and positive.»
It should be noted that due to the growing aggression on the part of Russia, a civilian training program was approved in Lviv, teaching the city residents to own weapons, protect themselves and provide first aid. In order to gain relevant skills and be able to help themselves or other people in case of an emergency, several organizations are already offering Lviv residents first-aid courses. Lviv Now has prepared a list of such courses that are currently available in the city.
We will recall that the Law of Ukraine «On the Fundamentals of National Resistance» came into force on 1 January. 103th separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces is stationed in the Lviv region, and it consists of 7 battalions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Service in the Territorial Defense Forces is a military service under a contract in the reserve. Therefore, citizens of Ukraine aged 18 to 57 can join it. To do this, you need to contact the district centre of staffing and social support at the place of registration, where they will suggest further steps.
Sofia Shavranska, translated by Vitalii Holich
Photo provided by Iryna Shpak and Iryna Tykhenko
You can read a Ukrainian language version of this story here.
Follow Lviv Now on Facebook and Instagram. To receive our weekly email digest of stories, please follow us on Substack.
Lviv Now is an English-language website for Lviv, Ukraine’s «tech-friendly cultural hub.» It is produced by Tvoe Misto («Your City») media-hub, which also hosts regular problem-solving public forums to benefit the city and its people.
