Episode 46 of Freedom Flights is set in June 2025 and will be released in two parts, as I post them. Some events foreshadowed in this episode will take a few months to play out, while others may be resolved in the next episode. I have also continued to write each scene in 3rd-person limited POV.
I’m trying to foreshadow future incidents without making my characters react as if they know what will happen later in 2025… although they might fear what could happen. Also, I want each episode to focus on just a few RL incidents from a specific month, along with character and squadron development.
Therefore, until a just and lasting peace for Ukraine is reached and rebuilding begins, I will continue to write more episodes. Perhaps after that, I can finish writing the pre-2022 growth of the Chayka Family and Chayka Air, their aviation business based in Canada.
We must never forget the brave people fighting for freedom, with too many losing their lives. Let’s pray Western aid and weapons continue to reach Ukraine, despite unexpected interruptions. Assistance must arrive on time to change their fortunes and prepare for the genuine peace that must come soon.
Links to the previous episodes can be found on my Freedom Flights page via the left-hand sidebar.
**
Episode 46. Spinning Threats. Part 2. Beacons of Light.
2025
Tuesday, June 10th – Obolonskyi District, Kyiv, Ukraine
Taisiya attached the leash to Tryzub’s equipment harness, then they followed Osinniy out of the Golf Griffon and across the car park to the smoking apartment complex.
Red & white tape surrounded the area where rescue workers were tackling the aftermath of the devastation. The person in charge ran up.
“You must be the paramedic and veterinarian we were told to call.” Leading them towards the building, he continued, “A Shaheed kamikaze drone struck a fifth-floor flat at 2 am, bringing down all the apartments directly under it. Once our firefighters put out the blaze, debris kept falling. Then a second drone hit-”
He stopped when they reached a hidden figure being reassured in Spanish by a familiar medic, Jacinta Garcia, who looked up.
“Katiuska is conscious but trapped.”
“Jacinta’s been reassuring me, but save Treka first. I can wait.”
Some distance away, Taisiya noticed Aldona Jagoda with her Belgian Malinois, Taika.
“Go to her,” said Osinniy. “I’ll see to Katiuska.”
As Taisiya approached, Aldona explained.
“Treka was hit by debris from a second explosion and trapped. This guy, Danylo, is a vet tech, so he’s examined her.”
A freckled face looked at her as she knelt, so she stammered.
“I’m this K9 team’s vet.. veterinarian surgeon… how’s Treka?”
“She’s amazingly calm considering her left hind leg is trapped and bleeding slowly. I’ve tried to stem what I could. But if more of these bricks were removed, I don’t have the material to treat more profuse bleeding–”
Taisiya put her veterinary pack down and opened it.
“Hopefully, I have, either in here or Tryzub’s harness.”
Carefully, they moved the bricks, exposing the husky’s crushed leg. Taika immediately began licking his friend’s wound. When Taisiya allowed this, Danylo queried the behaviour.
“Normally, in the clinic, I would clean the wound. Here, as in the wild, one dog licking another’s wound can help remove harmful debris and dead skin, and their saliva is a natural painkiller. Now the damage is visible, the bleeding isn’t heavy, but the lower bone is fractured, which concerns me.”
She nodded at Aldona, who instructed Taika to stop his canine treatment.
“Should we staunch the bleeding, splint the leg, and bandage it before we take her to your clinic?” asked Danylo.
Taisiya removed some freezing spray and splints from her pack, along with bandages and two syringes from her K9’s harness. Danylo assisted her in getting the Husky ready to move.
“Accurate diagnosis and great assistance. Are you volunteering to help fly Treka to my surgery?”
“Fly? You’re a flying vet. Fantastic. I’m not committed, so yes.”
With Aldona’s aid, they carried the sedated K9 to where Osinniy was treating Katiuska.
“Treka. Is she okay?”
“She needs an operation, but what about you?”
Osinniy pointed to Katiuska’s freed left leg, mangled below the knee.
“Same for me,” replied the fearless K9 handler. “I was told the only way to get me out was to remove this lower limb. But I’m out and have my leg.”
Osinniy turned away and whispered, “There was nothing we could do to save it, realistically.” She turned back and said, “The hospital in Lviv will operate accordingly.”
Taisiya knew which hospital Osinniy meant, as she had gone from there to the Superhumans clinic, where she’d received her prosthesis.
“Are you taking Treka back to Chayka Field?” asked Katiuska, as they lifted her onto a stretcher.
“She’ll recover there,” replied Taisiya, ensuring K9 and handler were close, while being carried to the helicopter. “We’ll all be there for her.”
Katiuska stroked her Husky, saying, “I know it may be months before I return with a powerful new leg.”
Once the two patients were onboard, Taisiya told Jacinta and Aldona that she’d ensure the Griffon returned for them.
“I’ll get the Puszczyk to collect Treka and me… and probably my catch, Danylo.”
**
Wednesday, June 18th – Environs of Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
Capitaine Aline Bonheur maintained the NH90 TTH Caïman’s position on the edge of the target zone, awaiting the first guide bomb. Her co-pilot, Lieutenant Cateline Ivanova, radioed Captain Natalie Kuzmenko to begin her run in the Sukhoi Su-25UBM1.
“Sierra to Frogfoot. Start first test sequence.”
There was no response as Natalie flew the Frogfoot at tree-top level, then pulled up into a steep climb.
“Frogfoot to Sierra. Hammer released. Destroy at descent point.”
When the bomb reached its peak, Cateline recorded the readings displayed as it dropped, then triggered its self-destruct. After two more bombs, she radioed Major Lidka Andrysiak to make her runs in the 10A Thunderbolt II.
“Sierra to Warthog. Start second test sequence.”
Lidka took the Warthog through the same manoeuvre, with Cateline recording the readout on another three bombs, self-destructing them all.
“Sierra to Frogfoot and Warthog. Return to base for analysis. Over and out.”
Turning to Aline, she added, “Definite improvement for both. Hopefully, Raphaëlle will have finalised the arrangements for this afternoon’s testing of the prototype counter-drone weapons.”
*
Commandant Raphaëlle Balode studied the test readings approvingly.
“The adaptations we’ve made to our Frogfoot based on the Warthog’s survivability haven’t reduced its abilities. In fact, these readings suggest the Hammers will glide further.”
“And our Warthog’s performance has improved,” said Lidka. “Thanks to what we’ve learned from the modified Frogfoot.”
“I’ll transmit an encrypted report to Chayka Field after this afternoon’s trials,” said Raphaëlle. “When Kilo KAI LAH-1 Miron arrived this morning, the crew advised how best to equip the new equipment derived from the Tryzub 90 laser system.”
When Kilo’s crew, Captain Jeong Chae-Yeong, Sergeant Raisa Vezzoso, and Warrant Officer Kang Eun-Ji joined them, Raphaëlle asked for an update.
Chae-Yeong saluted, as did her crew.
“All stowed and final adjustments made with your maintainers’ assistance. We can proceed as scheduled.”
“At 1400, after a brief lunch break in the canteen,” said Raphaëlle, leading the Development Team downstairs.
Others, some formerly at Chayka Field, joined them in the canteen.
“What’s the latest Sanctuary gossip, Raisa?” asked Adelita. “The last I heard from Conchita was that Katiuska was waiting for her residual limb to heal, at Superhumans, where her prosthesis will be tailor-made.”
“Her K9, Treka, is adapting amazingly to having her own prosthetic leg,” replied Raisa. “Add another terrible night with Putin launching more revenge missiles and drones on Kyiv. Our medevacs and K9 units were busy treating multiple injuries, and at least 16 people were killed.”
“Yet Trump does nothing,” said Aline. “Except he rushed out of the G7 yesterday without meeting Zelenskyy. Horrible coward.”
Angry curses filled the room, directed at Trump.
“Conchita received a confusing message from Aaron… ‘Returning shocked from front. News at Lviv.’ She’s hoping he’s not injured.”
“Especially if Lviv means the Superhumans Center,” responded Adelita. “I’d be surprised if he was injured. Aaron might be elusive, but never evasive. Maybe he was shocked by the grim reality he witnessed at the front and needed to meet injured soldiers recovering at Superhumans.”
“Conchita messaged him back, saying she was going to the Center next week with three former patients to support Katiuska before her training prosthesis fitting.”
*
Aline positioned Sierra midway between Kilo, operating the Tryzub 90.5 laser system, and the Frogfoot, launching some of the drones.
“Sierra to Frogfoot and Ground. Launch first drones,” radioed Cateline, knowing Chae-Yeong and Kilo’s crew were prepared for an indeterminate number of incoming attackers.
Cateline and crewmate Cecilija Lusk tracked three drones heading for Kilo, but all were destroyed.
“Sierra to Frogfoot and Ground. Launch the second wave and repeat every minute, increasing in number.”
As the targets increased, the Tryzub 90.5 laser system coped, but eventually Sierra was forced to self-destruct more than the laser destroyed.
“Sierra to Frogfoot and Ground. Cease Trial Launches,” radioed Cateline. “Echo, assessment, please. Over.”
“Echo to all. Tryzub 90 laser system effective until overwhelmed,” radioed Raisa. “Unable to cope when targets began to exceed twelve. We believe, even with multiple units and promising capabilities, challenges remain. Environmental factors such as weather conditions, dust, and smoke will affect laser accuracy and effectiveness. Over.”
“Frogfoot to all. With more research, the power supply required for sustained laser operations and for use by attack aircraft needs to be modified. However, exercise was invaluable. Over.”
“Sierra to all. Tomorrow, we’ll try Tryzub 90.5 lasers in two helicopters. Return to base. Over and out.”
Aline grinned and turned to her crewmates.
“This evening, we’ll ensure Geralt ‘Bald Eagle’ Sówka gets to be with Chae-Yeong again.”
**
Friday, June 27th – Superhumans Center, Wynnyky, Lviv Oblast
Polina greeted the receptionist, a fellow ‘graduate’ as former patients were often called. He also greeted Olha and Taisiya in the same way.
“A different K9?” he asked Taisiya.
“Tryzub is back at our SAR centre. This K9 Husky is Treka, who belongs to the patient, who we are all here to see, Katiuska Meléndez.”
He took their names, graduates, then Doctor Sacha Proulx, and finally Conchita Garcia.
“Weird, I checked in an Aaron Garcia, but to see another patient. Related?”
“My husband, but who is he visiting?” asked Conchita as Polina held her hand firmly.
“Albina Medved. I’ll arrange for someone to take you to the physical therapy area.”
*
Aaron was pleased Conchita had found him until he realised his mistake when he read her face as he helped Albina walk over the exercise steps.
“I’m sorry, my light, I only found out everything today. I came as I learned in Sumy that the Russians were using drones to pin soldiers down between the lines, including some Special Forces survivors, who were brought here. Albina, can you tell her, please, or is that too traumatic?”
She shook her head and sat down, but continued leg stretches as she spoke.
“Early May, our six-person unit was sent into Russia to liaise with one of our regular pro-Ukrainian partisan groups.” She paused, and Aaron remembered why. “Somehow our rendezvous was compromised. An FSB-led unit ambushed us, forcing us back towards the Russian lines.”
“Were you captured?” asked Conchita.
“That was their intention… capture, torture, and interrogate.” She shut her eyes and shuddered. “Until a Ukrainian glide bomb attack scattered them, allowing us to escape nearer our lines.” Her head dropped, and she began breathing heavily. “But two of my comrades were wounded, and enemy drones forced us into an abandoned trench. They kept us pinned down for six days. Our food and water slowly ran out… as did our luck.”
“Couldn’t our forces rescue you?” asked Conchita.
Aaron knew the answer.
“If they could’ve, without getting massacred. There were no trees, no cover. When a drone dropped a shrapnel grenade and killed three of my friends, the three remaining were injured.”
She chewed her lips, but Aaron sensed the memory was still raw.
“Shall I continue, or do you need to?”
“Remembering is accepting and healing. Fog one morning and silence. Drones were grounded, allowing us to escape. But progress was slow, with two injured supporting the most serious. Somehow, we reached our lines and desperately needed medical attention.”
She stopped, choking, fighting back tears.
“Only two of us survived. The grenade shredded Demyan’s right leg, but he’s here. I’m not whole either.” The tears escaped. “Losing my left leg was… agony. Worse is losing Ruslan. We’d only been married two weeks and together for two years. How can I face Illya… and Tamila?”
“With our help,” said Conchita, as she and Aaron hugged Albina.
After a few minutes, Aaron turned to Conchita.
“Did my message bring you here today?”
“There’s another patient from Chayka Field here.”
*
Nobody was surprised when Treka spotted her handler first, although she was careful not to knock Katiuska Meléndez over in her exuberance.
Taisiya grinned at the predicted reunion.
“Thanks, Rusya, for leading us here,” she said to Ruslana Danilkina, one of the Superhumans graduates working as a recreational activities therapist. “You’ve inspired us all.”
“I believe that rehabilitation is not about teaching to walk with a prosthesis,” replied Rusya. “Rehabilitation teaches people to live with a prosthesis, helping them understand that they are now much more complete than before.”
Taisiya smiled and said, “Something you encouraged during my recovery here. I learnt the value of sport through Superhumans. Adaptive Football gave me another lifeline, and now new friends and a job helping K9s.”
“Not only an ace veterinarian but an amazing goal scorer,” added Polina. “In case you hadn’t heard, the germ sown here has become a football team of Superhumans.
The therapist smiled and said, “I see my love of life being even stronger than before my injury has spread as intended.”
As Rusya waved goodbye and walked over to more patients, Polina voiced Taisiya’s thoughts.
“She’s like a beacon of light and positivity around here. Always helped when I was admitted here for my first prosthesis.”
Polina turned to Katiuska, whose doctor had arrived to check her progress.
“Your residual limb must have healed fast if your socket has been fitted.”
“Model patient,” said the doctor.
“I’m blessed with this model physician and the determination to work again.” Katiuska began playing with Treka. “Her new leg is amazing. Thanks, Taisiya.”
The vet blushed, glad that replacing the leg hadn’t been as tough as she feared.
“Team effort. I just did the surgery with my new friend Danylo. The other dogs and handlers around lifted her after the op.” Noticing writing on Katiuska’s socket, Taisiya asked, “What does ‘¿Has visto mi pierna?’ mean?”
“Survivor’s humour,” said Katiuska.
“It’s ‘Have you seen my leg?’ in Spanish,” answered Conchita, arriving with another patient… everyone else knew, including Taisiya’s fellow medic.
“Albina. I’m sorry we meet again, like this. Does sharing what happened help?”
“When among friends, Sacha, but as Conchita and Aaron know the tragic details, I’ll protect myself by being simple. I lost my leg, but my dearest Ruslan gave his life.”
From everyone’s stunned expressions and tears, Taisiya realised he was Albina’s husband, yet Albina encouraged her fellow patient instead.
“Katiuska, I’ve learned that a person with an amputated limb must develop awareness of their new body and learn to accept it. Having friends is a blessing, too. New ones too.”
Taisiya hastily introduced herself, adding, “I’ve been welcomed at Chayka Field. My new family. It’s hard to lose a leg, but terrible to lose someone precious. I lost my only surviving family member… my sister.”
“Like you, Albina was alone until she met Ruslan,” said Olha, who grasped the sniper’s hand. “Do Illya and Tamila know yet? The army should inform the family, but as Tamila’s friend, how can I help?”
Albina hesitated before answering through her tears.
“They should have been told about our precious Ruslan… but they may not know where I am. Please tell them, Olha.”
“You know, when you are released from here, you can recover at Chayka Field again,” said Sacha. “We now have the facilities to—”
“Welcome Superhumans,” added Katiuska’s physician. “I believe you have some experience, Doctor Proulx, from previous visits and from France.”
“Tragically, I fear the disabled we’re both seeing now,” replied Sacha. “Are just a drop in this war’s ocean. Peace can’t come fast enough, but the Russian attacks don’t seem to cease.”
***
MPA – 2,536 words
**
Slava Ukraini
Heroiam slava!
*
HEADLINES
Zelenskyy calls for ‘concrete actions’ as Russian strikes hit seven of Kyiv’s 10 districts: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/10/zelenskyy-russian-strikes-kyiv-ukraine-moscow?utm_term=68481ecd9417d3b9f9ac9e650b1f5bc6&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUS&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=GTUS_email
What is the ‘Tryzub’ or Trident laser weapon that Ukraine has unveiled? (FP Explainers • December 19, 2024, 13:34:38 IST): https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/ukraine-tryzub-trident-laser-weapon-russia-war-latest-13845838.html
Superhumans, the center that repairs Ukraine’s most gravely war-wounded: 6 February 2024): https://superhumans.com/en/bez-kategoriyi-en/superhumans-the-center-that-repairs-ukraines-most-gravely-war-wounded/
Superhumans – please donate: https://superhumans.com/
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