In Memory of Ukraine's Hero, Lieutenant of the Medical Service Vladislav Titarenko
Lieutenant of the Medical Service Vladislav Titarenko, revered by family, friends, and his beloved as a doctor sent by God, a loyal friend, and a caring son, left an unforgettable mark by saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. Despite serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine for less than a year, he managed to save hundreds of lives, demonstrating exceptional dedication to his work.
Vladislav Titarenko was born on September 13, 1994, in the village of Borova, located in the Izyum district of Kharkiv Oblast. He attended Kharkiv Gymnasium No. 172, graduating with a gold medal, and subsequently enrolled at the Kharkiv National Medical University. According to his mother, Oksana Viktorivna, Vladislav's interest in medicine began in his teenage years when he watched the series 'House, M.D.' during a prolonged illness at home. The image of the charismatic doctor and the events unfolding in the hospital inspired him to become a surgical doctor.
His education coincided with the onset of the Russo-Ukrainian war, prompting Vladislav to simultaneously undergo military training at the Department of Disaster Medicine and Military Medicine. In 2017, he successfully completed the military department and received the rank of junior lieutenant in the medical service reserve. By 2018, Vladislav graduated from university with honors in the specialty of 'Surgery,' which he consciously chose during his studies, aiming to work with his hands and see the results of his labor. After completing his internship, he worked at the 25th Clinical Hospital in Kharkiv and also joined the efforts in the infectious diseases department during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vladislav was in Kharkiv. Russian shelling destroyed his apartment in Northern Saltivka, where he lived with his girlfriend. Following this, he resided for several months in a single room at the 25th Clinical Hospital while continuing to fulfill his professional duties.
On December 7, 2022, Vladislav was mobilized to the military hospital 'Military Medical Clinical Center of the Northern Region' in Kharkiv, where he provided surgical assistance to wounded soldiers. After a 20-day training period, he was dispatched to Kivsharivka, where he worked in a mobile military hospital. Even during enemy shelling, Vladislav performed risky surgeries, displaying incredible courage and professionalism. 'It was a small hospital. A mobile operating room, a few doctors and nurses, as well as ambulance drivers. The workload was simply colossal. They worked both day and night,' recalls his mother.
The command of the military medical institution recognized the young doctor's professional skills, and in the last months of his life, Vladislav held the position of commander of the forward surgical group in a mobile military hospital in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast. Oksana Viktorivna shares that her son grappled with ethical dilemmas, as he had to provide medical assistance to occupiers, but he decided not to succumb to emotions. 'He had only hatred for the Russians. He was very categorical: they are the enemy, especially after seeing what was happening to the guys at the front. We agreed that we must remain human and professionals at all costs,' she states.
Vladislav's colleagues nicknamed him 'Anti-Sadness' for his ability to calm people after intense work. He tried to divert attention from the horrors of war with kind words and a sincere smile, keeping children's drawings brought by volunteers at his workplace.
Tragically, on August 5, 2023, Russian forces struck a blood transfusion center in the village of Kruhlyakivka in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast with a guided aerial bomb. As a result of this attack, two people were killed, including 28-year-old doctor Vladislav Titarenko, who was performing his professional duty to save the lives of Ukrainian defenders.
According to data provided to Oksana Viktorivna by the military unit, from July 7 to August 5, a total of 1,016 individuals passed through the forward surgical group led by Vladislav. In less than a month, his group conducted 557 surgeries, 37 of which were classified as serious or extremely serious. Vladislav was laid to rest at the Alley of Glory in the 18th Kharkiv cemetery. He is survived by his mother, grandfather, younger brother, beloved girlfriend, and friends.
On February 24, 2024, by decree of the President of Ukraine, Lieutenant of the Medical Service Vladislav Titarenko was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, along with the Order of the Golden Star. Earlier, the Kharkiv Regional Council awarded him the Sign of Honor 'For Services to Kharkiv Oblast' posthumously. 'No award can replace my son. But I understand how important this recognition is for those boys and girls who are currently working in hospitals and stabilization points. These awards, this recognition is vital for doctors. Doctors are people who never intended to fight. They always wanted to preserve life. All hospital doctors are heroes,' emphasized Mrs. Oksana.
In memory of the combat medic, Hero of Ukraine Vladislav Titarenko, a memorial plaque was unveiled on September 13, 2024, at the hospital in Kharkiv where he worked. This act of honoring the memory of a hero who gave his life to save others will forever remain in the hearts of the people.
Photos from the archive of Oksana Titarenko and Suspilne Kharkiv. Prepared by the Ukrainian National Agency Ukrinform in collaboration with the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory and the online media of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, ArmyInform.
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