There are almost three dozen embroidered shirts (vyshyvanka) in his wardrobe. He jokingly calls himself a nationalist, but he took the Hippocratic Oath more than 40 years ago. This is about the Honored Doctor of Ukraine, urologist Mykhailo Cherednychenko. He tried to join the ranks of the territorial defence forces three times, but each time he was rejected. Today, he put more than one wounded soldier back on his feet. In his free time from medical work, he is a volunteer and coordinator of the Charity Organization “Civil Aid Service Headquarters – Cherkasy”. The doctor told how he treats defenders and combines it with volunteering.

I studied in Odesa and began working in Cherkasy in 1979. Then I worked for three years in the Katerynopil Central District Hospital and returned to Cherkasy again. Since 1985, I have been a urologist at the urological department of the Cherkasy Regional Hospital. In general, I have devoted 43 years to medical work.

In 2005, when I received the honorary title of Honored Doctor of Ukraine, I performed many operations. There were more than 60% of trips — all of them were urgent cases: emergencies, injuries, falls, ruptures, road accidents. At that time, such a direction was in surgery, when all operations were open. Now medicine is developing, new technologies are being developed, so the number of operations with the use of instruments, that is closed ones, is 85%. So now I don’t operate as much as I used to – only complex cases.

I consider myself a nationalist who always stood up for justice. I am the only one in the Cherkasy Regional Hospital who has 28 embroidered shirts (vyshyvanka) for any time of the year. I wear them not because it is fashionable, but because it is my way of life.

Azov Regiment is an example of courage and professionalism

I always liked “Azov”. Back in 2014, it was “Azov” who prevented the russian enemy from taking over Mariupol. It is nice that they have a number of victories, specially developed operations. I always wanted to be in their ranks, to help, so I became a member of the political party “National Corps”.

Our party and its branches were constantly growing, we were the first to fight against the “Medvechuks”, and won many court cases. Currently. I am a member of the political party, despite a respectable age, I am pleased that younger members consult with me and listen to my advice.

When a full-scale war broke out, we began to help even more actively. At first, in the most difficult moments, our boys were in Kyiv to prevent the occupation of the capital. When the enemy was repulsed, most of the defenders were disbanded in Popasna, Pisky in Donetsk region.

At the volunteer hub there is constant care and support

At first, 60 people were mobilized from the “National Corps”, and then another 40. So at Ambros Hub, we organized a group of volunteers who worked in all directions. We even had to get socks, tank tops, T-shirts, shoes, phones, everything that was needed for the first time. Our volunteers even provided hairdressing services.

I joked that now boys can safely get married: they have a jacket, a backpack, two pairs of trousers, underpants, T-shirts, detergents, razors, etc.

In other words, the defenders had constant care and concern. Besides, we made many Molotov cocktails.

So, about the cocktails. Once the katsaps tried to conquer Finland, the Finns invented a cocktail and called it “For Molotov”. But the katsaps stole it too: they removed the word “for”, and what remained was simply “Molotov cocktail”. It turned out that the katsaps also took this credit for themselves.

So, we poured cocktails, made anti-tank and anti-vehicle obstacles (The Czech hedgehogs). We cooperated with the pharmaceutical industry: purchased medicines, sorted first-aid kits, and doctors’ backpacks. At first, even the entrepreneurs themselves came to us and helped in whatever way they could. In two days, I collected 86 thousand hryvnias for the purchase of medicines for first-aid kits. So many people came to help us that we didn’t have time to provide everyone with work. We worked like the best Swiss watch.

Currently, we are mainly engaged in the transport sector, because defenders’ cars often break down or cannot be repaired at all due to shelling.

He treated and coordinated the wounded soldiers

Later a large number of fighters came to the rotation with barotrauma, psychological traumas and mechanical damage. Where to distribute them? It is clear that they have all become like family for us. I became a medical coordinator, because I worked in medicine for so many years that everyone knew me. So I distributed the defenders to the departments of the hospital, according to the injuries. The regional hospital became a hospital of the second front line. It directly provided specialized medical care: bone, classical, abdominal surgical interventions, etc.

There were days when 300 people came to the hospital every day. During the worst times, 25 people were treated in one department. Two-thirds of one department was filled with wounded soldiers.

They came to us from all fronts: from Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, from various spots. In general, our regional hospital received wounded soldiers in maxillofacial, thoracic, vascular, traumatological, urological, surgical, and ophthalmological departments.

Of course, it would be better if the department was specialized, but then it didn’t matter what the injury was, these departments were still surgical.

Some of the boys were badly hurt, although now they are all in better shape, waiting for another rotation to the east. Then the number of wounded decreased, but unfortunately, I think it is temporary. Almost all of us have now gone to the front.

He combined medical work and volunteering

When the full-scale war broke out, I was at our volunteer hub all day long, as well as working in the regional hospital. After completing medical tasks, I went to help volunteer. When a lot of wounded arrived, I operated on several defenders. Then I accompanied them and prescribed further treatment. Two or three boys came to me every day. They rested, got treated and went into battle again. I gave them side recommendations, health instructions, because this is the most precious thing they have.

There were also pleasant moments. Four couples got married during the war.

The warrior’s “hormone”

As for the hormonal theory. Anyone who has been to war and considers himself a true fighter, his body produces such a hormone that he cannot live without. They are all determined to fight for complete victory and literally rush into battle. But among the boys there were those whose nerves gave out, they could not stand such an environment of war. This is a natural process and not all guys can be “hard as nails”. But there are not many of them.

Those who left first went through the most difficult times: when one assault rifle was for two people, when two magazines were for one assault rifle. There was no one to fight. Shpola, Zhashkiv, Khrystynivka – there are a lot of wonderful professional guys.

Read also: “I don’t expect gratitude, I see it in people‘s eyes,” the story of a woman from Kyiv who actively volunteers even in the occupied territories

As for me, I don’t have star sickness and I don’t grow wings behind my back. I just do what I like, what I can and what is necessary.

I tried to join the ranks of the territorial defense forces three times, and in different ways, but I was refused, because I do not pass by age. Therefore, all that remains for me is to work here, to speed up the Victory every day with my actions and the actions of our soldiers.