Azovstal paramedic Ptashka tells how her great war started

She shared the story on her Instagram page, reports Espreso TV.

We knew it would be hell

According to Ptashka, Russia began intensive shelling of Mariupol on February 16. However, the city's defenders realized that they had to stay in their positions until reinforcement arrived.

"It all started on February 16. Self-propelled artillery system, Nona systems, mortars, tanks and other equipment. We were in a shaky dugout when a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher struck near the kitchen. Vitaliy and I were drinking tea and saying that we had to stay here until reinforcements arrived. We knew it was going to be hell," she wrote.

The girl said that while other fighters were repelling Russian fire, she was sitting by her backpack with her hand on the radio and her dog Tapik, so that in case of urgent information she could run to the mortar crew and pass it on, because "walkie-talkies are not reliable."

First contusion

The paramedic also recalled how everyone would sleep for 1 or 2 hours and constantly wake up on alarms with suspicions of an infantry breakthrough. The defender came under her first "real shelling" on February 19. A shell exploded in the air 10 meters away from her.

"On February 19, I came under heavy fire from 122 and 152 caliber weapons. I got my first contusion. It was my first real shelling. It exploded in the air 10 meters away from me. It blew me and Vitaliy into a dugout. That was the first time I formulated my principle of my war in Mariupol. "What difference does it make whether you die in wet pants or you live? It stinks the same. Let's work, guys. Either we live and fight to the last as fighters, or we will die as fighters, because this is our destiny - to protect our loved ones," Ptashka said.

On February 24, she had to dig out her comrade from the rubble of a destroyed house. The soldier was rescued, but later it was reported that the hospital where he was being treated had been captured by Russian troops. She does not know what happened to the soldier later on.