УКР “I’m not naive enough to think that after the war, I’ll just move from the trenches into a cozy apartment in Lviv with books and a cat,” says Tristram, a 31-year-old junior sergeant and field medic-instructor with the 2nd International Legion, a special purpose battalion of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
Tristram’s story is not one of typical patriotism or familial ties. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he had no connection to the country. He was living in Poland, leading a life far removed from war. But when he witnessed the suffering caused by the invasion, he couldn’t remain a bystander. “Sending money or donating clothes didn’t feel like enough,” he explains. “I was young, strong, and able to act. For me, there was no excuse not to fight.”
After a year of intensive medical training and voluntary service in the Polish military, Tristram made the life-changing decision to join Ukraine’s International Legion in October 2023.
He doesn’t romanticize his role or claim heroism. “I don’t like to say that I saved someone,” he says. “If you count every patient I’ve treated, it’s over a hundred. But rarely is it one person who saves a life. Someone pulls the wounded from the front line, someone assists with medical procedures, and someone arranges evacuation. It’s a collective effort.”
In the chaos of war, Tristram has found something he never expected—belonging. “I don’t have a home. I haven’t had close friends or family for a long time. But I value the relationships I’ve formed in the army. War has taught me to appreciate people for who they are, while they’re still with us.”
Like many soldiers, he thinks about life after the war but remains grounded. “When the time comes, I’ll prepare to return to civilian life. But I’ve gone through this war with Ukrainians. I can’t imagine reintegrating into a society untouched by conflict. Here, I’m valued. So why would I leave?”
Tristram is one of thousands of medics supported by the Leleka Foundation, which provides critical tactical medical gear to those on the front lines. He knows firsthand how much this equipment matters. In one close call, a makeshift double backpack nearly cost him his life.
“I had to strap one bag on top of another, and because of that, I got stuck in a trench during shelling. I couldn’t duck or take cover. But the backpack I received from Leleka fits perfectly—it works whether I’m evacuating the wounded or supporting an assault team.”
For Tristram, the war has redefined what it means to have purpose, connection, and courage. And through the support of people who care, he continues to stand between life and death—saving not just lives, but the spirit of what Ukraine is fighting for.