Soldiers spot SOS sign, save last villagers on Donetsk front
Ukrainian soldiers from the 3rd Mechanized Battalion of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade rescued two civilians who had remained the only residents of a frontline village in Donetsk Oblast, brigade representatives reported on Aug. 17.
On August 17, Ukrainian soldiers from the 3rd Mechanized Battalion of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade rescued two civilians who were the last residents of a frontline village in Donetsk Oblast, according to brigade representatives. Dozens of other villagers had perished during the war, the two evacuees said, as they recounted burying their fallen neighbors and eventually noticing no one remained to bury.
The pair had steadfastly refused to abandon their home, maintaining a farm, gardening and stockpiling provisions, with hopes the conflict would pass them by. The village had been without electricity since 2023, relying on generators and solar panels to charge their phones. The couple expressed their peaceful nature, stating they hoped to survive and live in their own home.
However, an enemy artillery strike destroyed their dwelling, leaving them with no shelter and vulnerable to constant shelling. This realization prompted them to signal for help. The area where the village lay was under the jurisdiction of the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 20th Army Corps. During routine surveillance, drone pilots from the 3rd Mechanized Battalion observed the two civilians waving a cardboard with "SOS" written in large letters.
Three servicemembers, just returning from combat duty, were dispatched to assist. The rescue was challenging, covering 15 kilometers of open terrain, trees and river crossings under intense Russian drone and artillery fire. The soldiers walked for three days, exhausted and hungry, camouflaging themselves as best they could. Upon reaching the couple, the soldiers successfully evacuated them to safety.
Both are now receiving medical attention in a hospital. The woman expressed a resolute desire not to return to the village, stating she would rather die than go back. "God forbid! Shoot me now, but I would never go back there. If only people could see what's happening there... I just want to live in peace. That's all I want," she said.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
