FIREFIGHTERS VLADYSLAW CHERNYKOV AND VADYM PUZ: BLITZ WITH KYIV RESCUERS
The Firefighter is one of the six characters in the RBTNK universe, whose titanic work in the real world sometimes unfairly goes unnoticed. So, on the eve of Firefighter’s Day, we met with those who are in the very epicenter of danger almost every day — firefighters from the 24th Fire Station of the 4th State Fire and Rescue Unit of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv Vladyslav Chernikov and Vadym Puzem.
We talked with them about how to work today in high-risk conditions, how the rear can avoid hindering the work of emergency services, and what it is like to regularly rescue people from the very depths of hell.
Happy Firefighter’s Day! We admire your dedication, selflessness, and 100% courage. Greet the superheroes by supporting our charity initiative: all net profit from artifacts from 15.09 to 22.09 will be directed to the urgent needs of firefighters.
Vladyslav, Vadym, greetings!
Tell us about your work.
Vladyslav: I professionally fight fires and save people’s lives.
Vadym: We fight fires. We save people. We do our duty.
And why did you choose this role?
Vladyslav: Hmm, I never really thought about it. I just decided it was a worthy profession.
Vadym: A friend worked here and told me about his job — I was interested, so I joined.
What do you see as your mission?
Vladyslav: There isn’t really one — I came here back in 2013 and stayed.
Vadym: I just like this job.
What things are always with you?
Vadym: My phone is always with me, and that’s about it. Sometimes, if the radio isn’t working, I can call to see if I’m still here :)
What do you dream about now?
Vladyslav: That the war ends. Now everyone is a realist, probably: there’s no time to think about personal dreams. So when a strike happens and people really need help, there’s especially no time for yourself — it can happen during work or off-duty. The workload is very heavy now, especially lately…We work in the Darnytskyi district, so it has always been a bit difficult for us. It’s a large response area, which includes not only high-rise buildings, but also private houses and a large forest-steppe area. There used to be peat bogs too. A lot. But that problem has been resolved.
“There’s no time to think about personal dreams”
Vadym: That the war ends. There are no other dreams now.
What gives you the faith and determination to continue your work?
Vladyslav: I just do my job, and that’s it, because I studied and I know how to do it. Someone has to do it. If I can, I do; if I can’t, I don’t.
“Someone has to do it”
Vadym: I like the job :)
What do you lack now for effective work?
Vladyslav: It’s a whole system. We can talk about communication with people. Mostly, we suffer because people do things thoughtlessly: like putting up barriers — on Zdolbunivska, on Urlyvska — you can’t get through there either. But in general, we have equipment and capabilities, but that’s all relative: today we have them, and tomorrow a Shahed strikes…
How do you think we can build a bridge between the rear and the front?
Vladyslav: Through communication, that’s the only way. Because there are many things we don’t know, and the same goes for the other side. That is, everyone is used to, as they say in jokes, firefighters going out without water and sleeping 24/7. In reality, we’ve only just seen how it really is — but it has always been that way.
Vadym: And it still happens. Sometimes you have to put out the house… (he jokes)
Vladyslav: People are different, we just push ourselves to the limit.
Overall, material and technical support has improved. People have started to understand more that this is all consumable, and with this kind of work and workload, it doesn’t last long — this applies to combat gear, the equipment we receive, and other equipment, for example. It used to be harder with this: we had little equipment, but now it’s a bit better. So I think it’s good that people have started to learn more about us.
How do you feel the support of the rear?
Vladyslav: Even in the same coffee: they bring coffee, water…
Vadym: They feed us (laughs)
Vladyslav: It’s nice. It didn’t happen before, but now it happens often. Although they don’t always have time to understand anything before we’re gone :)
What would you like the rear to understand about your work?
Vladyslav: That they should take more interest. Because our service has always been there, and basically, no radical changes have occurred: we still respond to fires, still save people, dismantle structures, eliminate all possible consequences: accidents, man-made disasters, emergencies, and so on — anything can happen. But my point is that people need to take more interest. Because, one way or another, we do this for them, and I am risking my life and health.
“People need to take more interest. Because, one way or another, we do this for them”
Relationships don’t work one way, right? We need to interact somehow. On our part, we do everything possible: we have groups on social media, for example, on Instagram and Facebook — and everything is told and shown there. We also hold tours at our station, people come with children from first to ninth grade, and sometimes even from kindergarten.
Vadym: I would like people to take more interest — it would make our work a little easier.
Vladyslav: For example, they constantly park in front of fire hydrants.
Vadym: And everywhere — you can’t get through.
Vladyslav: That’s also part of it: a person simply doesn’t know, they come home tired after work, their neighbor’s apartment is on fire — and we’ve arrived. And then you start looking for them through the homeowners’ association and so on — it takes time. Someone’s time.
Tell us your favorite story from work.
Vladyslav: Well, in 13 years…There are many, but they are all like that — not for distribution :)
And what is on your dog tags?
Vadym: The emblem of the State Emergency Service and the phrase “Fire does not burn the passionate” on the back.
What achievements of your service are you proud of?
Vladyslav: I am proud that we save people. There have been difficult tasks, but I wouldn’t want to share them — a friend died. It’s such an environment where we ourselves don’t know what’s next. It happens differently. Now, mainly, it’s also the threat of Shaheds, missiles, etc.
“I am proud that we save people”
Vadym: Actually, all tasks are remembered.
If you could become any character, who would you choose?
Vladyslav:No one. Because we are who we are now.
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