August 19, 2026, marked a significant day for the 475th Separate Assault Battalion "Code 9.2". President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 738/2026 awarding the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star to Junior Lieutenant Vladyslav Polski, known in the ranks by the callsign "Tycher". The highest state award was presented to the company commander for his personal courage and heroism in defending state sovereignty.
Operation amidst critical equipment shortages
The story of the feat unfolded during the execution of a combat mission in a populated area. The soldiers of Lieutenant Polski's company successfully cleared several enemy positions, but the victory came at the cost of two wounded servicemen. Command decided on their immediate evacuation using a Ground Robotic Complex (GRC). This decision was dictated by the need to minimize risks to personnel when extracting the wounded from under fire.
However, the situation on the battlefield changed rapidly. A Russian FPV drone struck the robotic platform, disabling it. The wounded soldiers found themselves in the open in a critical position, and waiting for other equipment could have cost them their lives. In this desperate situation, Junior Lieutenant Polski decided to go for his subordinates personally, after coordinating actions with the battalion commander.
A decision without a vest: speed versus protection
Speed was the key factor in the success of the operation. To act as quickly as possible, the company commander made an unconventional decision — to go on the evacuation without a body armor vest. "It was easier for me to dash out lightly and carry the guys than if I were in full gear: extra weight, extra items that would have hindered me," Vladyslav Polski later explained his actions.
The entire operation, from the moment the GRC was hit to the arrival of the wounded at the stabilization point, took only 30–40 minutes. Thanks to the commander's decisiveness, the wounded soldiers were delivered to a medical facility. Currently, their condition has stabilized; they are in intensive care under the supervision of doctors.
Contradictory data
Despite the heroic nature of the operation, certain discussions arose around the incident, reflecting systemic problems on the front. On one hand, Lieutenant Polski's actions were recognized as "the most optimal and correct decision" under those specific conditions, where "the chance was very small." On the other hand, the very fact of the commander's need to take a personal risk to evacuate the wounded due to the robot's failure points to a shortage of equipment.
Experts and military observers note that such situations, where saving lives depends on improvisation and the personal risk of an officer rather than the availability of sufficient robotic platforms, remain an acute problem. As noted in analytical materials, the problem of "lack of evacuation means" periodically surfaces in reports from the front, creating additional risks for personnel.
Tradition of recognizing courage
The awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine to Vladyslav Polski continues the tradition of regularly recognizing the merits of the country's defenders. Previously, the highest award was posthumously awarded to Colonel Valentyn Korenchuk, commander of the "Kiev Ghosts." It is also worth noting that the title of Hero of Ukraine is awarded to female servicemembers, as happened with NPU machine gunner Alexandra Davydenko. Lieutenant Polski's feat became another bright example of the selflessness of Ukrainian military personnel in 2026.
