'We Are All Warriors': Ukrainian Combat Medic Killed In Battle Urged Comrades To Continue Fighting
Oleksandra Mulkevych, a 35-year-old combat medic, was honored in Kyiv before her burial on August 17. In a posthumous letter, Mulkevych urged her family and friends to continue their fight for freedom.
![Oleksandra Mulkevych, a Ukrainian combat medic who went by the call sign "Mike," died on August 14 after the ambulance she was traveling in was hit by a Russian first-person view (FPV) drone. She was honored by her colleagues, family, and friends in Kyiv on August 17. At Mulkevych's request, her friends posted on her Facebook page a message she had written to be shared if something were to happen to her.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-fd9d-08dcbeca9037_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Oleksandra Mulkevych, a Ukrainian combat medic who went by the call sign "Mike," died on August 14 after the ambulance she was traveling in was hit by a Russian first-person view (FPV) drone. She was honored by her colleagues, family, and friends in Kyiv on August 17.
At Mulkevych's request, her friends posted on her Facebook page a message she had written to be shared if something were to happen to her.
At Mulkevych's request, her friends posted on her Facebook page a message she had written to be shared if something were to happen to her.
![The combat medic wrote: "We are all warriors in a way, some on the battlefield, some fighting corruption, some restoring justice in the courts." ](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-0aff-0242-8e07-08dcbecaabb7_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The combat medic wrote: "We are all warriors in a way, some on the battlefield, some fighting corruption, some restoring justice in the courts."
![Several hundred people were on hand as her casket was transferred to the historic Baikove cemetery in Kyiv.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-0aff-0242-abe6-08dcbecaaaa7_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Several hundred people were on hand as her casket was transferred to the historic Baikove cemetery in Kyiv.
!["Oleksandra managed to do as many good things in 35 years as people manage to do in a lifetime," said Mulkevych's husband, Maksym.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-804f-08dcbecaabbf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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"Oleksandra managed to do as many good things in 35 years as people manage to do in a lifetime," said Mulkevych's husband, Maksym.
![In the letter read aloud by Maksym, the combat medic wrote: "We are such a warlike nation. And very passionate about freedom. I was lucky to be born in the best country in the world, Ukraine, and it is a country for which I would be honored to die. And it's even better to live for her."](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-2200-08dcbecaabbc_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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In the letter read aloud by Maksym, the combat medic wrote: "We are such a warlike nation. And very passionate about freedom. I was lucky to be born in the best country in the world, Ukraine, and it is a country for which I would be honored to die. And it's even better to live for her."
![A portrait of Mulkevych near her casket](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-380b-08dcbecab6da_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A portrait of Mulkevych near her casket
![Well wishers, some carrying the national flower of Ukraine -- the sunflower -- were in attendance.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-0aff-0242-5fdc-08dcbeca9038_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Well wishers, some carrying the national flower of Ukraine -- the sunflower -- were in attendance.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-337a-08dcbeca9038_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![A service dog sits behind soldiers who attended the funeral.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-d97d-08dcbecab672_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A service dog sits behind soldiers who attended the funeral.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-0aff-0242-96c1-08dcbeca9e9c_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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![Mourners grieve by Mulkevych's casket.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-4185-08dcbecabde0_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Mourners grieve by Mulkevych's casket.
![A final salute. Mulkevych was 35 years old.](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-afb3-08dcbecab6c9_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A final salute. Mulkevych was 35 years old.
![](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-c0a8-0242-5011-08dcbecac4d1_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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