From programmer to paramedic: the story of Yuriy Trunyakov's courage.
The KhAI University community is proud to share the story of Yuriy TRUNYAKOV, a graduate of the 6th faculty in 2002. A programmer by education, he went from an engineer to a paramedic, a volunteer and a hero, awarded state awards for saving lives at the front.
After completing his studies at KhAI, Yuriy worked at the Kyiv Aviation Plant, and since 2017, at the Kharkiv FED enterprise. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Yuriy, without a medical education, decided to save people's lives - he turned to the emergency medical care hospital with a proposal to work in an ambulance, help the wounded.
During 2022, Yuriy went on calls every day, took the wounded away, and at the same time received a paramedic education. And at the end of the year, having a reservation at the enterprise, he voluntarily went to the Donetsk region - to the hottest points of the front to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
In November of this year, the First Separate Medical Battalion carried out a unique operation "GVER". With the help of a ground robotic complex, a soldier was evacuated on the seventh attempt, who, from the moment of being seriously wounded and applying a tourniquet, had been held for 33 days in a settlement temporarily under enemy control. During the route to the wounded NRK, he was hit by an anti-personnel mine, but was able to continue moving on a damaged wheel, and on the way back there was an attack by an enemy drone, but the wounded man was not injured thanks to the armored capsule.
On November 6, 2025, by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 821/2025, Yuriy TRUNYAKOV was awarded the medal "For Military Service to Ukraine" for personal courage, selfless performance of military duty and a unique operation to rescue a seriously wounded soldier. He received the award as a junior sergeant of the 1st separate medical battalion of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During a solemn ceremony at the Mariinsky Palace, President of Ukraine Volodymyr ZELENSKYY personally presented state awards to servicemen who showed heroism in the battles for Ukraine. In his speech, the Head of State emphasized: "Each and every one of you is an example for others. An example of strength, an example of courage, an example of devotion to Ukraine."
These words fully apply to Yuriy TRUNYAKOV, a graduate of KhAI, who not only mastered a new profession in wartime, but also saves lives every day, risking his own.
This recognition is not only an honor for Yuri, but also a source of pride for the entire KhAI community. His example demonstrates how humanity and determination can be combined in service to the country.
The story of the unique operation to save the wounded is covered on the official pages of the President of Ukraine:
https://president.gov.ua/news/prezident-vidznachiv-derzhavnimi-nagorodami-vijskovosluzhbov-101209;
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2079950682832933.
