Episode 208 — Called to the Front Lines — A Ukrainian Woman's Story of Faith, War, and SacrificeEpisode 208 — Called to the Front Lines — A Ukrainian Woman's Story of Faith, War, and Sacrifice
The Recovering Reality Podcast
Mila, a Ukrainian-American nurse and combat medic, shares how her faith led her to serve soldiers and civilians on the Ukrainian front lines. The conversation focuses on fear, sacrifice, prayer and moments of unexpected healing in the midst of war.
1:03:47•12 Sept 2026
Called to the Front Lines: Mila’s Story of Faith, War and Quiet Courage
Episode Overview
- Seeking God’s purpose can reshape career choices, as seen in Mila’s move from hospital nursing to combat medic training.
- Mila views frontline work as bringing light into darkness, choosing to serve where fear and danger are constant.
- She stresses that many war-related physical pains are rooted in deeper spiritual wounds like unforgiveness and trauma.
- Prayer and scripture, especially Psalm 91, are central to how she faces missile attacks and intense fear.
- Acts of love and presence can soften even the hardest hearts, illustrated by the injured soldier who shifted from swearing to gratitude after prayer.
“Darkness is not gonna go to light, so light has to go to the dark.”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? This conversation on The Recovering Reality Podcast follows Mila, a Ukrainian-American nurse and newly assigned combat medic, as she talks about answering what she believes is God's call to the literal front lines of war. The tone is down-to-earth and raw.
Erik Frederickson chats with Mila about her journey from working as a hospital nurse in the United States to training as a combat medic so she can serve soldiers under fire in Ukraine. She explains that she first felt led into healthcare through prayer, then later sensed she had to go "into the darkness" to share God's love with civilians and soldiers experiencing bombings, amputations and constant fear.
You’ll hear how Mila balances medical care with spiritual support, insisting that much of the pain she sees is rooted in trauma and unforgiveness. One striking story involves a woman who survived being lined up to be shot, whose physical pain seemed tied to deep bitterness. Mila gently tells her, "you have to forgive," for her own healing.
Another powerful moment centres on a severely injured soldier who had lost multiple limbs and could only swear at anyone who approached him. After Mila prayed for him, staff were surprised to see his behaviour change; he stopped swearing at her and later asked to be wheeled over to give her a treasured unit patch as a gift.
As Mila puts it, "darkness is not gonna go to light, so light has to go to the dark." The episode is aimed at people of faith, those in recovery, and anyone curious about how belief, courage and service can coexist in extreme circumstances. It carries strong themes of sacrifice, trust in God and confronting fear head-on.
If you’ve ever wondered what saying "here I am, send me" might actually look like, this story may leave you reflecting on where you’re willing to carry your light.
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