On June 25 at 15:00, a public meeting will be held in the Main Building of the War Museum to mark Medical Workers’ Day in Ukraine – a conversation with Captain of the Medical Service and author of the book “Shrapnel from Avdiivka: Instead of Bedtime Stories for My Son” Oleksandr Homeniuk.
Oleksandr Homeniuk, a former member of the “Plast” scouting organization, was a pediatric orthopedic doctor in peacetime. After the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, he voluntarily joined the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Marko Bezruchko and became a military medic, rising to the rank of Captain.
While on the front line, Oleksandr kept a diary that later became the basis for his book. The title “Shrapnel from Avdiivka: Instead of Bedtime Stories for My Son”*is no coincidence. As Oleksandr saves soldiers’ lives at the front, his little son waits for him at home. In his book, the author describes the difficult daily life of a military medic, filled with pain and blood. Over less than two years, Oleksandr and his comrades have saved thousands of lives – hundreds in critical condition – and he recounts this to the son he hasn’t seen during that time:
“This is where I’ve been, son, while you were growing up without me. This is what I was doing when I wasn’t taking you to kindergarten, when I wasn’t playing with you or hugging you and your mom. Look, here I’m examining the body of our fallen ‘boy,’ and now I’m dressing the wound of a living Cossack. And here I have to amputate someone’s leg, and then more will come – those who took up arms for your future and the future of millions of Ukrainians.”
In February, the book was presented in Vienna, to raise awareness abroad about the challenges faced by Ukrainian military medics. It was published by the veteran publishing house “Zaliznyi Tato”, founded by Dmytro Savchenko, who also currently serves in the defense forces.
The book has become an important testimony for those studying the realities of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
During the event, we will discuss the organization of medical service at the front line, the transformation from civilian to military doctor, challenges of the profession, writing as therapy for personal and professional resilience, responsible fatherhood in times of great danger and ethical decision-making on the edge of life and death.
Participants:
- Yurii Savchuk – Director General of the War Museum
- Oleksandr Homeniuk – military medic, author of “Shrapnel from Avdiivka” (online)
- Tetiana Shpaikher – the author’s wife, journalist, and playwright
The event will be moderated by Liubov Krupnyk, researcher at the War Museum.
Free admission with prior registration
