Spotlight on Ukrainian war doctor Oleksandr Sokolenko

Spotlight on Ukrainian war doctor Oleksandr Sokolenko

2022-12-20

Today in our spotlight story, we meet Oleksandr Sokolenko, who served as a doctor in the Ukrainian war. Sokolenko was invited by the Formosa Republic Association to give speeches at hospitals around Taiwan. He also went to Hualien to thank and pay his condolences to the family of Tseng Sheng-kuang, a 25-year-old Taiwanese man who went to Ukraine as a volunteer soldier and lost his life. In an exclusive interview with FTV reporter Stephany Yang, Sokolenko shared his experience as a frontline war doctor. He also praised Taiwan’s medical treatment and voiced his hopes to cooperate with Taiwan to help even more people in need.

Sharing photos of the time he was serving on the front line, this is Ukrainian doctor Oleksandr Sokolenko. He was originally a general surgeon, but when he saw his hometown being invaded, he decided to don a military uniform and become a frontline volunteer doctor. For six months, he was on call 24 hours a day to save lives.

Oleksandr Sokolenko
Ukrainian doctor
Our heroes are still fighting in very bad conditions. Our people are fighting against a very strong enemy. We are fighting without lights, and without water in the cold weather. Our doctors work 24/7 and work really hard. We do a lot of work. Different people joined to resist. Damage control surgery. I can’t share everything but I did medical care.

The Formosa Republic Association invited Sokolenko to visit Taiwan and share his experiences on the battlefield as a frontline war doctor. At one stop, he visited National Taiwan University Hospital to learn about wound healing and reconstruction.

During his stay, Sokolenko also had the opportunity to try various Taiwanese delicacies.

Oleksandr Sokolenko
Ukrainian doctor
Also, I hope to learn from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital because Taiwan, you are on the top of the world in reconstruction. You are a great country with great doctors, and great people for sure, and of course great food.

He also made a trip to Hualien to visit the family of Tseng Sheng-kuang, a Taiwanese man who died in November volunteering as a soldier in Ukraine. Sokolenko was so moved that he knelt down, thanking Tseng for his sacrifice for Ukraine.

Oleksandr Sokolenko
Ukrainian doctor
For us, he stayed a Ukrainian. We will remember him as all foreign volunteer who came to help us. And for sure, from now on, his family is our family too. We also respond to them. That’s why I decided to visit his parents. I just tried to take a bit of their pain and share it with me because I can’t imagine their pain, but I tried to do my best to support them a bit.

Sokolenko said he hopes to build stronger ties with Taiwan, especially in cooperation with NGOs. In addition, he also said he would do his best to help Taiwan because the two countries share common values.

Oleksandr Sokolenko
Ukrainian doctor
I believe that we have the same values. Taiwanese and Ukrainians have the same values. Both of us choose democracy. I think we have a pretty similar situation. I have fallen in love with your country. You have really warm people and a really warm nation. I hope and pray that you will never get that experience that we get. But, I will try to help in any way I can to help you. I will try my best to help your people.

Praising Taiwan’s kind people and advanced medical care, Sokolenko says he hopes to invite more Ukrainian doctors to come to Taiwan.

烏克蘭醫師來台分享戰地醫師的經驗

2022-12-20

烏克蘭戰爭中，擔任戰地醫生的烏克蘭醫師Sokolenko在福和會的邀請下來台演講，也前往花蓮探望志願兵曾聖光的家屬，表達慰問並感謝曾聖光的付出。Sokolenko在我們的專訪中，分享戰地醫師的經驗，他也稱讚台灣醫療，並希望與台灣合作，幫助更多人。

烏克蘭醫師Sokolenko分享在前線服務的照片，他是一名一般外科醫師，眼看家鄉遭到侵略，他毅然決然穿上軍裝，成為戰地醫生。整整6個月，每天24小時待命救人。

[[烏克蘭醫生 Oleksandr Sokolenko]]
"我們的英雄仍在非常惡劣的條件下戰鬥，我們的人民在沒有燈光，在寒冷的天氣及沒有水的情況下，對抗強大的敵人。我們的醫生24小時很努力工作，做了很多工作。大家團結起來抵抗。工作包括傷害控制手術，我沒辦法分享每個細節，總之我負責醫療工作。"

這次Sokolenko接受福和會邀請，來台分享當前線戰地醫生在戰場上的經歷，還安排他到台大醫院取經，學習傷口癒合和重建。

他也藉此機會，在台灣品嘗各式美食。

[[烏克蘭醫生 Oleksandr Sokolenko]]
"我也希望能向長庚醫院學習，因為台灣的重建醫療技術是世界頂尖。你們是一個偉大的國家，有偉大的醫生、偉大的人民，當然還有美味的食物。"

日前他還到花蓮，探望志願兵曾聖光的家人，曾聖光不幸在11月戰死烏克蘭沙場。Sokolenko激動到下跪痛哭，感謝曾聖光為烏克蘭犧牲。

[[烏克蘭醫生 Oleksandr Sokolenko]]
"對我們來說，他是烏克蘭人，我們會緬懷他和所有前來幫助我們的外國志願者。當然現在他的家人就是我們的家人了，我們也要對他們有所表示。這就是為什麼我決定去拜訪他的父母，我只是試著分擔一些他們的痛苦，我其實無法體會他們的痛苦，但我想盡可能地支持他們。"

Sokolenko希望能與台灣建立更強的連結，尤其是NGO的合作。此外，他還表示會盡最大努力幫助台灣，因為兩國有共同的價值觀。

[[烏克蘭醫生 Oleksandr Sokolenko]]
"我認為我們有相同的價值觀，台灣人和烏克蘭人具有相同的價值觀，兩者都選擇民主，我認為我們有很類似的情況。我愛上了你們的國家，有溫暖的人民，是很溫柔的國家，我希望並祈禱你們永遠不要像我們經歷那些痛苦。而我會盡我所能幫助你們，我會盡力幫助這裡的人。"

Sokolenko大讚台灣人的良善以及醫療水準，也希望日後有更多烏克蘭醫生能來台交流。

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In this spirit let me express our gratitude, for the fact that you are on the right side of history, in supporting our response to the unconscionable war of Putin in Ukraine. Let me also congratulate you on your measured and responsible reaction to unprovoked and increasing aggression and provocation from China.

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This is the first delegation to Taiwan of officials from the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade. There is a deep significance to the participation of each member of the delegation to the development of our bilateral relations and economic exchange. In the face of ongoing global expansion of authoritarianism, Taiwan is capable and willing to strengthen its cooperation with partners on the defense of democracy.

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Taipei’s top officials have resigned en masse ahead of the change in administration. To thank them for their service, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je presented them with certificates and medals of achievement. The ceremony also turned to be a chance for Ko to say some last words to his team.

At each certificate handed, Ko asked the recipient what their next steps would be. He was also curious to learn why not all officials were receiving a medal.

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Ko Wen-je
Taipei mayor
Together with the deputy mayors, the heads of the different departments today resigned en masse, before the start of the new municipal administration takes over on Dec. 25. I would like to thank all our colleagues for all your contributions, and the citizens of Taipei for their support. Thank you all a million.

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Ko Wen-je
Taipei mayor
Some officials retired, others moved to work in the central government. And some stayed on and got moved to other positions. It’s a number that I think is OK. The Taipei Dome project documents have already been sent to the central government. They’ve been under review for a year and eight months already. So once they clear the review in the central government, the steps after that are quite easy. It would just be drafting a plan for a soft opening.

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Liu Shen-mo
Ministry of National Defense
The comprehensive training course includes specialized training, training at military bases, joint drills and combat planning exercise to strengthen the combat abilities of soldiers and officers in performing combat missions.

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Tien Chin-yu
Baker
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Tien Chin-yu
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Back then, every time I made something, the association people said it was awful and tasted so bad. I wondered how come other people could make things so delicious, and I did it so badly. So I wanted to try again and again.

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This problem of poor communication runs counter to what we worked out on May 18. This is a problem of bad faith on your part, so don’t accuse us of not showing good will.

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