Azov Combat Medic Honored as Europe’s Best
A combat medic from the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine has been honored as Europe’s top military medic, The Gaze reports, citing the National Guard of Ukraine on Facebook.
Three medics from the Azov military unit took part in the Combat Medical Care Conference 2025, Europe's largest military medicine conference, held in Germany. The event, organized with the support of the Bundeswehr, brought together more than 1,400 leading experts from 44 countries.
Representatives of Azov shared with the international community their unique experience of providing assistance in combat conditions. For example, Senior Lieutenant Serhiy Rotchuk presented innovative approaches to medical logistics on the battlefield, and Olga Tagirova spoke about the challenges of providing assistance outside the “golden hour” and the ongoing work on training personnel.
The special award “Best European Medic of the Year” in the category of military medicine went to Volodymyr Ryzhenko (Sprite), a combat medic with the 12th Azov Brigade. He saved the life of a fellow soldier in the winter of 2025 by transfusing donor blood delivered by drone in extreme conditions.
Along with the award, Ryzhenko received a sword, a symbol of strength, dignity and courage that honors his exceptional bravery and commitment.
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