FPV drone operator, servicemember of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk, Yana Zalevska, was included in the “UP 100. The Power of Women” list in the “Defenders” category.
This is reported on the Ukrainska Pravda website.
Yana initially joined the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk as a combat medic.
“In this position I served for eight months and literally burned out emotionally — I stopped sleeping, eating, and felt extremely exhausted mentally. I can’t say that any particular incident broke me. It was more of a cumulative effect. The commander noticed this and suggested retraining as a UAV pilot, — says Yana.
In May 2023 Multyka was taken on a combat mission for the first time.
“During the first week working on the simulator I couldn’t even fly straight. I just beat myself up over it. However, there were always people who supported me. The guys said, ‘Yana, you were a medic, you have combat experience, pull yourself together, you’ll succeed!’. After four hours of daily sessions I stayed for extra training. Then I asked to take the controller home and practiced at home. Eventually in the second week I did fly. And after finishing the three-week training I was the first to pass the exam. So the biblical saying that the last will be first I literally made come true”, – shares Yana.
In May 2023 Multyka carried out a combat mission for the first time. During it she was wounded — her eardrums were damaged, and she now uses a hearing aid.
Despite this, she continues to take part in combat operations and commands a platoon of women pilots.
The full story of FPV drone operator Yana Zalevska, who was wounded in the Donetsk region, is at the link: