Participant of the Regional Competition "Young Person of the Year – 2025" in the Nomination "Public Figure of the Year" Oleksandr Parshyn
In 2024, during the extremely difficult period following the de-occupation of parts of the Donetsk region, when infrastructure was destroyed and the community was exhausted by the war, the Lyman city organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society gained a new leader—Oleksandr Parshyn. From the first days of his work, it became clear that this person had not just come to manage; he had come to revive.
Starting virtually "from scratch" in a destroyed city and without an established team, Oleksandr transformed the organization into a vibrant center for community support. He didn't wait for instructions from above—he took the initiative, made decisions, personally handled documents, logistics, and communications, while simultaneously supporting those who were nearby, who were afraid, losing hope, but still holding on. His strength of spirit, composure, and determination became the foundation for the organization not just to survive but to begin to act actively. Oleksandr established cooperation with local authorities, territorial units, humanitarian partners, and rescuers. His efforts allowed for the creation of an effective system for responding to emergencies in the community. Thanks to his coordination, the team responds to shelling, evacuations, and the critical needs of the elderly, families with children, and citizens with limited mobility.
Oleksandr does not hide in an office; he is on the front lines of volunteer work, together with his team, in courtyards, in shelters, in trucks with aid, among people who often see in him not an official, but a person they can trust.
One of Oleksandr's greatest achievements was the creation of a volunteer team. In extremely difficult conditions, he gathered and united caring people who, despite their own vulnerability and danger, are ready to help others every day. Most of the volunteers are local residents who have lost a lot themselves but found the strength not just to survive, but to support others. This is the result of personal example, emotional resilience, and the trust that Oleksandr Parshyn inspires. There is no formality in his work. He lives and breathes the Ukrainian Red Cross, coordinating all processes—from identifying needs to reporting, from loading humanitarian aid to conducting psychosocial events, from making safety decisions to supporting every volunteer. His day starts earlier than everyone else's and often ends after midnight. Colleagues say: "He holds on—and holds us. When it's difficult, we go to him for advice. When it's dangerous, he's already there. When it seems like everything is falling apart, he puts it all back together again."
Oleksandr Parshyn is not just the head of the Lyman city organization of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. He is the heart of the organization, its strength, its core.