"Another birthday": officer Olena Ryzh injured during Russian attack on Pavlohrad

Officer and Ukrainska Pravda 100 nominee Olena Ryzh has been injured during the Russian attack on Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Source: Olena Ryzh on Instagram Stories

Details: Olena sustained burns and is currently in hospital.

On 10 September, Russian forces attacked Pavlohrad with drones. The death toll stands at five, with 67 injured, including eight children.

Combat medic Olena Ryzh was in Pavlohrad that day. She said she was engulfed in flames after the final explosion, sustaining burns across her body, and is now in hospital.

"Pavlohrad. Four Shahed drones. Another birthday. Burns. I survived and that is the main thing. My condolences to all who were killed and injured," Olena wrote.

She also noted that 10 September 2026 is already her sixth birthday.

"On 9 September 2023, an RPG round landed in the spot where I had crouched down five to ten seconds before. Had it not been for that, my head would have been blown off," Olena recalled.

She also jokingly added that September has a grievance against her.

Olena began her war journey as an active volunteer at the start of the full-scale invasion and subsequently joined the military as a combat medic and assault soldier in the 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade.

She saved lives in battles for Robotyne, Avdiivka, Chasiv Yar and elsewhere. She is currently an officer in the 412th Brigade Nemesis and was awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

In 2024, Olena Ryzh became the host of the video podcast Dumky na stil (Thoughts on the Table) on the Kharakter platform, interviewing military personnel, volunteers, their family members and activists.

Background: A girl named Viktoriia, who sustained injuries and multiple wounds during a Russian attack on a children's playground in Kherson, was previously discharged from hospital and is now taking her first steps.

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