On 27 December, in Kolomyia, Roman Plihtiak, a first-year cadet of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, who was on holiday, together with passers-by, rescued four young children who had fallen through the ice on one of the city's lakes.

At around 4 p.m., Roman Plikhtiak was on his way to meet friends when he heard cries for help. Immediately arriving at the scene, he saw that four children had fallen through the ice on one of the city's lakes and were in the water.

Assessing the situation and realising that time was running out, the young man called the SES, asked passers-by for help and determined a safe course of action. Cadet Roman Plikhtiak and student Yarema Knyzhchuk took off their outer clothing and, following safety rules, went out onto the ice.

‘I immediately realised that there was almost no time. I called 101, asked a passer-by for help, and asked a woman to quickly find another adult. Every second was crucial,’ recalls the cadet.

The children were suffering from hypothermia and severe exhaustion. Another man, a local resident named Vitalii, joined the rescue effort. He waded into the water up to his waist and held the children while Roman Plikhtiak and his assistant took turns pulling them ashore.

‘At that moment, I had only one thought – to keep the children alive. To be honest, I wasn't afraid. I felt a sense of responsibility,’ says Roman.

A few minutes later, rescuers from the SES, an emergency medical team and police officers arrived at the scene. All the rescued children — an 8-year-old boy and three girls aged 9, 10 and 11 — were handed over to medics and taken to a health care facility for a medical examination.

‘Studying at university teaches you to act quickly, coherently and not to panic in extreme conditions. I have seen for myself that this knowledge works not only in the classroom, but also in real life,’ the cadet emphasises.

It should be noted that even in his school years, Roman Plikhtiak stood out for his perseverance, determination and responsible attitude to learning. This is confirmed by the fact that he graduated from school with a gold medal.

Despite his short period of study, Roman Plikhtiak has already proven himself to be a disciplined, responsible and motivated cadet. He is respected among his peers, always ready to help and demonstrating a high level of self-discipline. Roman is actively involved in sports, particularly aikido, which enhances his physical fitness and psychological resilience.

The cadet's career choice was a conscious one. His grandfather, who served in the police for a long time, had a significant influence on the formation of his life and career goals.

Roman Plikhtiak 's actions are a striking example of the willingness of future police officers to act decisively, professionally and responsibly in situations that directly threaten the life and health of citizens.

On behalf of the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, relevant materials are being prepared to nominate the cadet for an award. In addition, all three candidates are being prepared to participate in the All-Ukrainian action ‘Hero-Rescuer of the Year,’ which is held annually on Rescuer's Day, 17 September. https://univd.edu.ua/uk/news/26332