Anna Nlandu: “This is where you belong” — a decision that changes lives

Anna is volunteer with the emergency response team of the National Committee of the Ukrainian Red Cross.
She trained as a radio mechanic and also completed military training. She is currently studying management. Even before the full-scale invasion, she became deeply interested in tactical medicine and actively developed her skills in this field. After the start of the full-scale war, she became a combat medic.
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Her first experience came during the defence of Kyiv, where she worked in some of the hardest-hit areas, including Irpin, Bucha, and Moshchun, during the first months of the invasion. In June 2022, Anna was injured and forced to step away from field work.
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But stepping away was never an option. “I couldn’t just stay at home. So I continued volunteering as a paramedic in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions — wherever people needed help the most.”
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Anna joined the emergency response team of the Ukrainian Red Cross in autumn 2024.
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“I saw the recruitment announcement and immediately thought: ‘This is where you belong.’ I knew my experience could help save many more lives.”
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What motivates her most is the people she helps. “The people waiting for help. The expressions on their faces after being rescued. In moments like these, you realise you are here for a reason. That you are someone’s hope.”

Every deployment is a different story, but some remain with her forever. One of those days was 6 June 2025, when first responders were injured while carrying out their work.
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“We were already returning from a call when we heard an explosion. We realised it came from the area where another one of our teams was working. I called, but no one answered. The worst thoughts went through my mind. Then the commander got in touch and told us to go there immediately and help…”
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That day, the team worked without stopping, providing assistance to everyone they could save.
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Another mission became yet another moment when every minute mattered.

“We heard a drone coming in to strike. We barely managed to take shelter in an underground crossing. There were already injured people there. After the explosion, we immediately started working — assessing people’s condition and providing aid. The attack continued, and there was no communication. We simply did what we had to do.”
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“While working, I don’t have emotions — only a clear course of action. We know what to do and help others stay calm. It only sinks in later, once you return.”
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For Anna, volunteering is not something accidental. It comes from an inner need. If you come here just to try it out, the motivation may not last long. But if you truly want to help people, this is your path.
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She also shares an important reminder: “Learn first aid. You never know when this knowledge could save someone’s life.”