Taras Popadyuk with call sign "Semen"— a Hospitaller with a remarkable story

He was born into a family of a laborer and an accountant. “There were 10 of us children, I was the ninth... From 1963 to 1971 I went to school, and after 8th grade, I enrolled in a medical college. It no longer exists today.”

“I applied twice and prepared to enter Ternopil Medical Institute. But each time my documents were returned to me right before the entrance exam. The second time, a member of the committee told me I wouldn't be able to study there and advised me to take my documents back. The reason was my uncle, who regularly criticized the Soviet regime on the radio. So, I was banned from entering the institute. I worked as a nurse, and eventually — I got my dream job as an emergency medical technician!”

Taras has been honored with numerous awards.

After the annexation of Crimea, in January 2015, following training, he joined the Hospitallers battalion. He completed more than 40 rotations — in Pisky, Shyrokyne, Vodiane, Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, Karlivka, Avdiivka, Novhorodske, Chonhar, Chaplynka, Kalanchak.

During the full-scale invasion, in Velyka Novosilka, while our crew was under attack, we were evacuating from a dangerous area when the ambulance's wheel hit a deep pothole. We all hit the ceiling with our helmets, and I felt unbearable back pain. Since then, due to my health condition, I’ve had to stay home.”

Every summer, Semen works as a paramedic with children at a forest camp. Taras actively helps and has driven medical vehicles from Poland to Ukraine several times.

Recently, Taras Popadyuk was awarded the "Order of Saint Panteleimon".

It’s hard to count all of Taras’ orders — "For Dignity and Patriotism", "For Saved Lives", For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine from the UOC. He’s also been awarded a Certificate of Honor from the Verkhovna Rada, the Volunteer Knight's Cross, the People’s Honor badge for lives saved, and many more.

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