Vladimir Shamsky was born on 15 March 1983 in the village of Bazhane, Donestk region, eastern Ukraine. After training to be an auto mechanic at a vocational and technical school in the city of Kramatorsk, he found work as a driver in September 2000. For the next 15 years or so, Vladimir delivered goods across the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, before becoming an ambulance driver in March 2016. It therefore came as little surprise that he continued to assist people as a driver when he joined the ICRC’s subdelegation in Sloviansk in September 2017. In his new role, Vladimir delivered humanitarian aid to some of the most difficult and dangerous locations, including the cities of Lyman, Chasiv Yar, Kostiantynivka, Orikhiv and Nikopol, ensuring that help reached those who needed it most. Despite the constant challenges, he never took a backwards step because he knew his work saved lives.
What made Vladimir truly exceptional, however, was not just his skills but his courage. During his time with the ICRC – he switched to the Dnipro subdelegation in early 2018 – he travelled to places most would hesitate to think about. On one trip to a village in the Donetsk region, colleagues were worried about whether their ambulance could even navigate the road, which looked like a Martian landscape, so badly was it damaged. Without hesitation, Vladimir said: "Don't worry, we'll make it through." And they did. That was Vladimir – deeply compassionate and always ready to help others.
On another occasion, while delivering aid to a village, the tension was palpable. But, as always, Vladimir lightened the mood with a joke: "Don’t worry, guys, you’re in the safest hands this side of Formula 1." His calm, unshakable confidence made everyone trust him completely. He also had an incredible talent for making people laugh, even in the most challenging circumstances.
He adored his family – his wife and sons were his everything. Every time he spoke about them, his eyes lit up with pride. Vladimir always said his sons were his greatest pride and his wife was the anchor that kept him grounded. Though he gave so much of himself to his work, his heart always remained with his family.
On 12 September 2024, Vladimir was part of an ICRC team delivering winter fuel to the village of Viroliubivka, Donetsk region, when their vehicles were hit by shellfire. Vladimir, who was 41, and two colleagues – Serhii Lubinets and Denys Horodetskyi – were killed in the attack. Two other ICRC staff members were injured.
Speaking after the tragedy, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric condemned their deaths in the strongest terms: “It’s unconscionable that shelling would hit an aid distribution site. Our hearts are broken today as we mourn the loss of our colleagues and care for the injured. This tragedy unleashes a wave of grief all too familiar to those who have lost loved ones in armed conflict.”
Vladimir lived his life with dignity, courage and an open heart. He was devoted to helping others, caring for his family and embracing every moment with positivity. He could find something good and bright even where it was hard to see, and this made life just a little easier for everyone around him.
