A Piedmontese doctor of Calabrian origin, Carrozza is used to spending years working in war zones for NATO and the UN. He was in Kosovo, Somalia, Mali, Nigeria, Niger and Afghanistan. The final mission was an extremely delicate mission commissioned by a private agency he cannot name for security reasons. The task was to recover a group of seven foreign contractors on Ukrainian soil. A mission with the highest confidentiality. Our compatriot leads the team responsible for stabilizing the wounded mercenaries, mostly foreign instructors.
Vincenzo, what can you tell us about your last assignment?
“We did everything in 12 hours, three were injured. A helicopter took us to the field, where an armored ambulance was waiting for us. One of the foreign contractors was shot in the abdomen, the other in the chest, and the third had no serious injuries. We managed to stabilize them and bring them to safety in Romania, a NATO country.
You act in a team called “Ghost”. Because?
“Given the delicacy of the operation, every detail is explained when you are already on the flight to your destination. You can’t even bring your phone. I met my colleagues on board, all volunteers. Among them, an English anesthetist made fun of our secrecy. I work by calling us “ghost team”. After all, no trace of our presence in Ukraine should have remained”.
What does it mean to be a war doctor?
“It means being a civilian in a military context, you have to adapt quickly, but you never get used to seeing charred people. The fires that follow the explosions burn everything. And now, for the first time in my life, I’m having nightmares. I dreamed of houses exploding and children burning inside.”
He didn’t unpack his suitcase this time either: Does that mean he’s going again?
“I am ready to return to Ukraine out of a sense of duty. I’m a man and a doctor at the service of the West, even if sometimes I can hardly believe what’s in store for you: it seems to be in a video game”.
Do you sometimes think of your loved ones when you are at the front?
“Of course: I know that a rocket could destroy everything at any moment. But if I’m doing this job, I can’t afford to be afraid.”
You might also be interested in: