Mid-May, so it must be time for another episode of Freedom Flights. This month, I’m taking a different approach with some of the Night Witches going on a road trip from Dęblin in Poland to Kharkiv on the Eastern Front, where since the trip was planned the Russians have launched some border incursions. Episode 22 continues the road trip before the attacks on some border settlements, which could cause a change to their destinations.
Until a just peace for Ukraine is reached, I will continue to write more episodes, never forgetting the brave people fighting for freedom. At least the aid bill passing means we can hope, pray, and breathe again.
Links to the previous episodes can be found on my Freedom Flights page on the left-hand sidebar.
Episode 21 – Right To Exist
2024
Friday, April 26th – Dęblin Military Air Base, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
Although Kalyna had been sure of her facts when Maksym first spoke to her about the Ukraine-wide scramble, she wondered now if there were the right pilots to assemble an effective MiG-29 flight.
He must have detected confidence when she added the option of sending their attack helicopter… whichever helped more.
“If you leave Dęblin now while Vasy travels to Kharkiv, where does that leave the squadron? You two and Ksenia created this unique asset for the UAF… even if some haven’t recognized that yet.”
“There are other excellent leaders—”
“None with Chayka’s contacts, such as our Gripen future. Instead, I believe Kapitan Nadia Lysenko and her Tiger are another asset we mustn’t ignore.”
Kalyna was sure Maksym was plotting something, and knowing he saw a key role for the squadron, she played along.
“With the Gripens we now have and all the facilities Saab has made available, I’m willing to concentrate my energy on our Swedish future. But until the F-16s are combat-ready, what then?”
“You use your MiG-29s to keep Russian rockets, missiles, and drones from our skies.”
“And our helicopters to chase smugglers?”
Kalyna knew there was more, but when Maksym was ready.
“I need to come back to Dęblin and chat with you and your copter guys about your contacts. Meanwhile, I wondered what you know about the Sikorsky Brigade fighting in Ukraine. Is 2100 at the Zvenigora Restaurant a good time to meet?”
“Definitely, Aleks Górski will be back from her Puszczyk run. Do you need the two trainers there?’
“Their input is imperative.”
**
Saturday, April 27th – Zvenigora Restaurant, Dęblin, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland
“If Maksym Bondarenko asked about the Sikorsky Brigade,” said Igor. “He’s head-hunting Nadia… or they want her chopper.”
“Never,” replied Kalyna. “He knows her value to us.”
“Very true,” said Maksym as he came in through the door behind them, letting Agnieszka escort the group to their usual discreet table.
“Good to see you again, sir,” said Brajan. “We weren’t sure what would bring you back with all the attacks.”
Kalyna arranged the seating as Maksym answered.
“All the attacks requiring every squadron scrambling, made me realise it was time to get ahead of the enemy. Especially as some of this team are already acting upon their concerns.”
“You mean my cousin Vasy and our goddaughter Carita chasing more recruits at the Kharkiv National Air Force University.”
“And Ji-Yeon and Geralt investigating disappearing Alligators from the Xado factory in Kharkiv,” said Nadia. “And would I be correct in guessing the secretive Sikorsky Brigade operate attack helicopters somewhere along the Eastern Front?”
Maksym wondered how much the Witches and friends had pre-empted his plan. Or was that Nadia’s deduction?
“Few know where they are, which puts the Russians at a disadvantage and keeps the Sikorsky Brigade alive and dictating the fight – but not forever. The Brigade is fighting with dated weapons and guile.”
“Whereas we have a superb advanced bird… but only one,” said Nadia. “So, how do we help them?”
“By forming a Night Witches Brigade,” replied Aleks. “Except where do we find more copters and pilots?”
Maksym looked round the table. “Which is why we are here… for ideas.”
“We never had many copters at Chayka Air,” said Kalyna, as she began creating a chart on her notepad. “I’ll create a spreadsheet we can all access and update on the cloud with verification. I’ll also check Chayka’s inventory and ask our team for viable contacts… plus give my daughter Aliona access to the file as she’s Acting CEO.”
“When I talked to Ji-Yeon about Korea’s S&T Motiv K14 sniper rifle,” said Nadia. “She mentioned they only operate rotary-wing aircraft. Maybe if she asks, they might donate something to us.”
“What about your Airbus contacts?” asked Brajan. “Another Tiger would make you formidable. I think fighting in pairs is a valid tactic.”
“But again, don’t we need combined support from ground and air?” added Igor.
Maksym nodded and ordered food. “More priorities.”
**
Saturday, April 27th – Kalyniv Airfield near the Polish border
The convoy was spaced at secure intervals around the airfield in groups of three vehicles. Each group had camouflage netting to deter unwanted watchers.
Before Aleks flew back to Dęblin in the Puszczyk, she had offered anyone the last chance to return if they no longer wished to make the trip across Ukraine.
Once their encampment was set up, Vasy, Carita, Mariyka and the cadets headed for the Kalyniv canteen to meet the three Witches Flights as the pilots returned from sorties against the nightly Russian attacks.
Only a few ground crew sat in the canteen eating, and a lonely figure was drinking at the bar.
She turned and smiled when she saw the Squadron leader.
“Major Chayka… when did your flight arrive… Mariyka too?”
“We arrived in the convoy a few hours ago,” replied Vasy. “What about you, Tamila? I thought you were in a hospital in Lviv after you were shot down in January?”
As Vasy led them all to a table as they hadn’t eaten since lunch, Tamila explained.
“You’ll remember I baled out but stupidly smashed my ankle when I hit the ground. Well, the doctor thought it might have to be amputated.” The listeners gasped as she continued. “I was taken to the Superhumans Center in Wynnyky, near Lviv. As an orthopaedic clinic for the treatment of war victims dependent on a prosthesis due to amputation, they decided my ankle could be saved.”
“Great for you,” said Vasy. “They are doing amazing work with their patients, and one of our aid vehicles is going there already—”
“This is a story I must cover,” said Carita. “If that’s possible… and can Tamila come with me please, Vasy?”
“This keen journalist is my goddaughter, Carita Forsström. And this brave pilot is Lieutenant Tamila Medved, who flew with Gold Flight. I’m sure we can arrange for you both to visit the Superhumans Center, and then rejoin us.”
“Where are you going to, Vasy?”
She was about to explain when the flights started returning.
*
Tamila’s face lit up when Gold Flight came into the canteen and she embraced her Flight Leader, Anzhela Havrylyuk.
“Another safe sortie I see.”
“Thanks to my precious Larisa and her wizard ground crew. How soon before the doc passes you fit to handle g-forces?”
“Next week when I’m back from Kharkiv. First, tomorrow I’m taking this journalist, Carita Forsström to visit Superhumans at Wynnyky. Then, we’re going with Major Vasy to meet students at Kharkiv National Air Force University… and maybe recruit some to the Night Witches.”
“Good luck persuading Kharkiv National Air Force University students,” said Anzhela. “My year we were tough to persuade on anything— “
“If we mention one of our most hardheaded Flight Leaders was a Kharkiv graduate,” said Vasy from the next table. “Will we have every daredevil student volunteering?”
“Guaranteed. I just hope Mariyka, that without you and your absentee cadets here, there will be enough MiG-29s for these recruits.”
“Or other craft, given what my cousin implied in confidence earlier this evening. No guessing. We may make a crucial stopover in a few days, which might reveal more. For now, we must split up our unwieldy convoy as some vehicles have different stops to make, like delivering humanitarian supplies. On Thursday, May 2nd, we will rendezvous at another secured base nearer Kharkiv… details to be given to a few trusted individuals later tonight.”
**
Sunday, April 28th – Orthodox Easter – Superhumans Center, Wynnyky, Lviv Oblast
“Over 10,000 of our people have lost limbs since Russia invaded in February, two years ago. Your friend Tamila was one of the lucky fighters not to need a prosthesis—”
“But I realise if a limb gets trapped before I eject, it was close.” Tamila shivered then asked, “Have you fellow aviators here… with prosthetics?”
“Yes. I can introduce you to Dmytro Kovalchuk.”
Tamila and Carita were led in a gym equipped with some impressive training equipment, although more amazing were those clients using everything. Men, women, even some kids, all with ingenious prosthetics that barely impaired them from exercising themselves to their maximum ability. And all under careful and expert supervision.
Outside on a sports court laid out for ball games and a running track, a dark-haired bearded man and a long blonde-haired woman were kicking a soccer ball to each other, then dribbling the ball skillfully down a line of cones. Both had prosthetic legs from one hip… Dmytro to the right, and the woman on the left.
Their nurse-guide persuaded them both to talk sitting on a bench outside running track, with Tamila agreeing to translate for Carita if necessary. Having introduced themselves, Carita asked Dmytro to explain his experience.
“I flew a Sukhoi Su-27 from the beginning of the war, moving from base to base to outwit the orcs. But last January, my flight strayed too close to some concealed troops…” He paused and closed his eyes. “All I remember is ejecting after being hit by some MANPAD missile. Luckily I sensed something so baled fast… but my seat failed, blowing off some of my lower right leg.”
“Dmytro blacked out,” said the nurse. “He was fortunate a medic unit found him, staunched the bleeding, treated him as best they could. He was taken to a medical station, who saved what they could of his leg, before sending him here.”
Dmytro stood and did some stretches, before concluding his survival tale.
“Although I regained consciousness a few times, it was here at Superhumans when I realised that I had friends to aid my struggle, from the moment my new limb was fitted, through all the therapy to help me adapt and use it, to now when others just like me are developing skills I would never believe were possible. Fun moments of skill like this ball control.”
Carita whispered a question to the nurse-aide who waved a hand in agreement.
“Do you want to fly again? In combat?”
“Both of course. It might take time, but I am already getting help relearning skills using my prosthetic friend… and UAF has installed a simulator a few of us use, like Polina here.”
Tamila turned to Polina and asked, “You were a pilot too? What did you fly?”
“Mil Mi-17s, an old Russian military helicopter, although they’re using more modern ones. Unfortunately, I was thrown straight into action having passed out of Kharkiv National Air Force University a few months before the invasion. The craft I was co-pilot in barely escaped Kharkiv when the Russians captured the city, but we were shot down a few months later in August while relocating for medivac duties well behind the front. My pilot died in the crash, but the engineer dragged me clear of the wreckage. We hardly had much fuel left, but enough left so there was an explosion that tore my leg apart.”
“And your engineer got you both to the med station you were heading for. But you lost your leg and the engineer his right arm. Both came to Superhumans for treatment.”
Carita and Tamila glanced at each other, and then the Swede said, “Strange coincidence, Polina. We’re going to your University to interview female students… and to find recruits for our all-women squadron… the Night Witches even have two helicopters, a PZL SW-4 Puszczyk and a Eurocopter Tiger.”
“Awesome. I’ve flown a Puszczyk but only dreamt of flying in a Tiger. Two Tigers could seriously damage the enemy… especially with the NATO jets we’re promised.” She did some stretches to prove her fitness, then turned to the aide. “Nurse Borysova, have I recovered well enough to travel to Kharkiv National Air Force University with these fellow fighters, please?”
“Polina Moroz, I see no objection as long as your therapists agree. We can ask them after this evening’s Easter Service.”
“I hope you have room for another Witch with you, Carita and Tamila.”
As they agreed, Polina embraced them, and then kissed Dmytro.
“I won’t forget what we’ve shared these many months… and I’ll stay in touch as long as life lets us.”
*
Sunday, April 28th – Orthodox Easter – Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lypivka, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine
Vasy, Mariyka, and the three cadets followed their local driver Andriy past the fruit trees towards the austere edifice with its red domes.
As they passed over the supplies and funds for rebuilding the church, he introduced them to the tenacious local priest.
“The fighting for our village was right here,” the Rev. Hennadii Kharkivskyi said. He pointed to the churchyard, where a memorial stone commemorated six Ukrainian soldiers killed in the battle for Lypivka.
“They were injured and then the Russians came and shot each one, finished them off,” he said.
Andrij explained how two years earlier, the building provided physical refuge from the horrors outside.
“Almost 100 residents including my grandparents sheltered in the basement chapel of this Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary while Russian troops occupied the village in March 2022 as they closed in on our capital, Kyiv, 60 kilometres to the east.”
He paused looking around at the ongoing repair work.
“Rebuilding our unique church plays a part in Ukraine’s struggle for culture, identity and its very existence. Inside is another world, follow me.”
It was a blaze of colour inside. “The vibrant red, blue, orange and gold panels decorating the walls and ceiling are beautiful,” said Mariyka.
“They are the work of Anatoliy Kryvolap,” said the priest. “He is an artist whose bold, modernist images of saints and angels make this church unique in Ukraine. He wanted to avoid the severe-looking icons he’d seen in many Orthodox churches and believed ‘that going to church to meet God should be a celebration’. Please, I pray you are joining us for today’s sacred ceremony.”
“Of course,” said Vasy. “That is why we chose to come with Andrij on this day.”
**
Monday, April 29th – Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Kyiv, Ukraine
The wide-cobbled Heroyiv Nebesnoyi Sotni Alley seemed the right direction to reach Maidan Square. Song Ji-Yeon’s directions had been spot-on so far. Unfortunately, the right-hand-drive British Deuce and a Half had struggled for the last few kilometres.
Geralt Sówka knew the brakes were overheating and with the hill ahead heading down into the square he faced a battle with them. He couldn’t rely on them at all. Instead, he kept shifting down through the truck’s 5-speed manual transmission. Plus its 2-speed transfer case gave the bonus of five extra gears to shift through.
However, the weight of the truck with its passengers and cargo of essential equipment, made slowing the vehicle difficult. He even tried turning across the width of the road, avoiding all the parked vehicles and pedestrians.
Suddenly the road was blocked by a row of concrete planters. There was no room past them and going through the barrier felt reckless.
Then, glancing to one side, he saw a slip-road and threw a sharp left. Ji-Yeon was almost thrown into his arms. But the truck rolled to a stop.
Ji-Yeon flung her arms around him.
“Dramatic way you Poles get us girls… but I was impressed.”
She climbed out of the Deuce and a Half and pointed at the top of the memorial.
“That Statue of Berehynia, the Slavic Deity of Nature and Protection is appropriate and beautiful.”
“So, I’ll park and then we can go down and honour all the fallen heroes.’
She smiled and took two flags from inside her jacket, a Ukrainian and a South Korean, saying, “They’re a reminder of the sacrifices in the fight for freedom—”
“And the right to exist,” added Geralt, producing Ukrainian and Polish flags, before linking an arm with her nearest one.
FCA Words 2,646
LINKS
The Superhumans Center for prosthetics and rehabilitation was opened near Lviv cityhttps://inventure.com.ua/en/news/ukraine/the-superhumans-center-for-prosthetics-and-rehabilitation-was-opened-near-lviv-city
‘Better than nothing’: Outgunned Ukrainian pilots take the fight to Russia in ancient Soviet-era helicopters https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/europe/ukraine-pilots-helicopter-russia-intl-cmd/index.html
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