At just 22 years old, Ruben Mawick has emerged as a courageous volunteer in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, driven by a profound commitment to assist those affected by the war. His journey began before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, when he closely followed the developments despite having no personal connections to Ukraine. The moment he witnessed the harrowing images of missile strikes in Kyiv and people fleeing their homes, he realized he wanted to take action.
Initially, Ruben lacked the training required to serve effectively as a paramedic. However, after a year of preparation and research into various aid organizations, he found a group he could trust and made the decision to travel to Ukraine. Looking back, he expresses relief at having made that choice, stating, “I think I prepared myself as well as you can when you’ve never experienced war.” His first destination was Dnipro, a city located southeast of Kyiv.
Facing danger head-on
Ruben’s mission swiftly took a dramatic turn when the Kakhovka dam was destroyed, forcing him to redirect his path southward and join another team. His initial experiences were fraught with peril. “We were quickly spotted by a drone and had to take cover,” he recalled, emphasizing the constant threat of being targeted. As they pushed further into conflict zones, the sound of explosions became a familiar backdrop, culminating in moments where they found themselves under fire.
“A checkpoint about 200 metres in front of us was hit,” Ruben remembered, highlighting the precarious nature of their operations. The group faced the daunting challenge of navigating through areas laden with mines and evading precise Russian reconnaissance. The risk was palpable; their markings as an aid vehicle provided little to no protection. The volunteers devised a strategy, waiting for brief pauses in the shelling to make their move, ultimately escaping just as artillery fire resumed.
Haunting memories and a deepening resolve
Although Ruben initially planned to stay in Ukraine for only a few weeks, he found himself drawn back time and again. His return from the battlefield to Germany was jarring, marked by an intense feeling of normalcy that starkly contrasted with his experiences. At a shooting festival shortly after his return, he suffered a panic attack, a reminder of the trauma embedded in his psyche. “Too many people, too loud, no control,” he described, recognizing that large crowds in Ukraine often signal imminent danger.
Ruben’s emotional connection to the people he met in Ukraine, particularly children living in war-torn villages, profoundly affected him. During one of his missions, he met a young girl who, despite their language barrier, shared a moment of innocence by drawing with chalk on the floor. “She was born into war. She’s never known anything else,” he lamented, carrying a soft toy gifted by her as a reminder of the wider human cost of the conflict.
The turning point in Ruben’s journey came on September 9, 2023, when a mission to Bakhmut took a life-threatening turn. As the group approached the area, they encountered scenes of destruction, with wrecked military vehicles dotting the landscape. Without warning, a Russian anti-tank missile struck their vehicle. In the chaos that ensued, Ruben experienced a moment of clarity amidst the confusion. As he crawled out of the wreckage, instinct kicked in; he knew that survival depended on his ability to act quickly.
Despite sustaining severe injuries, Ruben shifted into survival mode, prioritizing the care of his fellow volunteers who were also injured. The harrowing reality of their situation weighed heavily on him as they assessed their options in the aftermath of the blast. With limited medical assistance available and the threat of another attack looming, the urgency to escape grew more pressing.
In a moment of raw honesty, he contemplated the terrifying possibility of capture by Russian forces, reflecting on the stories of brutality he had heard. “Captivity wasn’t an option for me,” he stated decisively. But as fate would have it, no Russian soldiers appeared, allowing him and another volunteer to seek help while grappling with their own wounds. Ultimately, they reached a Ukrainian military unit, leading to their evacuation, though not without the sorrow of losing friends in the process.
As he recuperated in Germany, the impact of his experiences remained. Ruben began therapy to process the trauma, finding solace in sharing his story. Despite the physical scars he bears, he remains determined to continue his efforts to aid Ukraine, recognizing that the war’s toll has not diminished. His commitment remains steadfast: “I have to keep going.” While he currently focuses on fundraising in Germany, he remains open to returning to Ukraine, driven by the need to support those still suffering.