Overcoming illness together

The men of the 11th Kyivska Rus’ Battalion visited the young patients at Okhmatdyt’s Oncohematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Center. The troops presented the children with a special edition of color book, which tells a story of a little boy who overcame his illness. Not only did the soldiers color the books together with the kids, but they also helped hem paint helmets for the construction workers busy with a new building of the Center, which was an unforgettable moment for all participants. Cheering the little ones up helps the troops relax psychological tension.

Meanwhile in Lutsk the military discovered for themselves the Volhynian Icon Museum, where they were brought by student and volunteer Daryna Karpiuk. The soldiers, who recently returned from the front, are now undergoing treatment at the military hospital. Its patients have visited the Volhynian Icon Museum several times, thanks to Karpiuk. The museum is a sort of hallmark, it has seen presidents and ambassadors, metropolitans and army generals, and of course, tourists from a lot of countries. But the residents of our oblast, especially those from remote villages, do not always have an opportunity to see the unique exhibits. The miraculous apostolic icon of Our Lady of Kholm is the gem of the collection. The troops who visited the museum this time had heard of it, so they asked for a tour. Liudmyla Karpiuk, senior research fellow, says that her visitors always strike her with a sincere, genuine interest in the exhibits. And the men seemed to be deeply moved when they stood in front of the famous icon.

It was decided to teach them to paint Easter eggs right there, because the process of painting has a calming and relaxing effect. Only one man in the group had an experience of painting eggs back in his childhood, yet everyone was enthusiastic. The result was pretty to look at, even if sometimes things went wrong. The troops took their work with them. Karpiuk told them an old legend saying that the world will exist as long as people paint eggs. So long the devil will not dare to leave hell. One of the men said dreamily: what if people painted more eggs? Maybe, the war would end sooner.

OLEKSANDR SOLODKY, RECONNAISSANCE SPECIALIST AT THE 11th KYIVSKA RUS’ BATTALION, IS PRACTICING HIS ARTISTIC SKILLS TOGETHER WITH THE CHILDREN / Photo by Andrii KRYMSKY