Ukrainian soldiers rescue last resident from village in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Ukrainian soldiers from the 118th Separate Mechanised Brigade evacuated Svitlana Podolska, the final resident of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The 64-year-old woman remained in her village for months after a Russian drone killed the last man living there on 10 April. She continued to maintain her farm and livestock despite Russian forces attacking her property with drones seven times. Svitlana Podolska eventually requested help from the military after her house was destroyed.

The evacuation took five months because heavy rains, constant drone activity, and landmines prevented military vehicles from reaching her. The evacuation finally began in late September when morning fogs provided cover across the Tavriia steppes. Svitlana traveled on foot toward safer territory with four soldiers and two dogs. The group moved in short bursts at dusk to avoid detection and swam across a river three times.

The journey concluded on 21 October, and the soldiers from the 1st Mechanised Battalion helped her secure a rental home to live with her daughter.