Mariana Tkachenko - participant of the regional competition "Woman of Donetsk Region" in 2025, nomination "Heart in Armor"
Mariana Tkachenko is a senior inspector at the Training Center of the Main Department of the National Police in Donetsk Oblast. She is a certified paramedic and instructor of the Maltese Aid Service in Ukraine.
She is one of those who stayed in the Donetsk region in the most terrible times to save others. Her bulletproof vest is not only protection, but a symbol of her strength, courage and care. When the full-scale war started, she was not looking for a safe place - she was looking for a way to be useful.
Mariana traveled to the places where enemy missiles hit. Her job is to call without warning, to see the wounded lying on the asphalt, to see panic, blood and fear. She acted when others did not have time to arrive. She provided first aid, took the victim out of danger, and supported him with words. Her professionalism is not about diplomas, it's about every life she saves.
The day of the massive attack on the Kramatorsk railway station was particularly difficult. In the chaos, she did not lose her cool - she helped, evacuated, and rescued. In those hours, she became the personification of the resilience of the Ukrainian nation.
Mariana does not like publicity. But her story is the one that needs to be heard. She is one of those who act without awards, without cameras, simply because she has a heart that does not allow her to stand aside.
In the Heart in Armor nomination, Mariana is an example of a woman who not only withstood the trials of war but also became someone who supports others. Her story is about strength, dignity and a sincere desire to help.
Mariana is not just a paramedic, but a symbol of what true bravery looks like. Her eyes have seen pain that cannot be forgotten, her hands have held lives that were slipping away, and her voice has given hope to those who have lost everything. She does not seek fame, but her quiet courage deserves to be recognized. She is a heart hardened by war, but not broken by it.
Read the detailed story of the contestant here: https://surl.li/mrsadv