When Karina Drachev was given options for IDF service, she knew exactly what she wanted. "I wanted to be a combat soldier more than anything," she says. "I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I enlisted in the Caracal Battalion, earned a distinction as a soldier and went on to a squad commanders' course.
On October 7, I was on base for the weekend — we were under a lockdown on leave. On November 1, I went out on patrol, and eight hours later, the Humvee I was in flipped over. My leg was completely crushed. When I woke up from anesthesia, the doctor told me it was a severe injury, and they couldn’t save my leg."
Michelle Rukovitzin also shares her story of injury. "I was a field intelligence systems technician — I repaired cameras and radar and I loved my job. I did my mandatory service in Lebanon, stayed on as a career soldier and then moved to serve in Gaza.
"I commanded soldiers who loved me, and I loved them. The day before Oct. 7, we were dealing with a malfunction until 4 a.m. We got back to base, I slept for two hours, and then I woke up to the alerts from the operations room."
She recalls the horrific day when she was wounded. "I ran to the shelter, and that’s when the first grenade was thrown—I got shot in the leg and passed out. They threw an explosive device, fired in all directions... It wasn’t until 10 p.m. that the guys from Egoz [an elite IDF unit] found me when they came to clear the base."
Her injuries were extensive. "I was shot in the foot, twice in the back, twice between my hip and leg, once in the tongue, and I had shrapnel in my head—that’s only part of the list. I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t eat, and I was paralyzed in all four limbs.
"Today, I can talk, eat whatever I want, and walk with assistance. My left hand still doesn’t move. The doctors told my family they didn’t know if I would ever wake up, or if I did, whether I’d still be myself—but here I am, more myself than ever."
'Life can end in an instant'
How did your injuries change your lives?
Michelle: "I dreamed of staying in the military, getting married, and building a family. Now, I take life one day at a time. The old Michelle won’t be back, and so my dreams have changed too. Today, my dream is to be able to dance at my wedding. I give talks and share my story—people are moved, they tell me I inspire them. We learned to rise stronger than before."
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Karina: "I had a clear path — I was supposed to be discharged in April. I had four months left in the army, and I was planning to rest and start studying. Just last week, I was finally discharged from the hospital, and that was the thing I wanted most. When you realize you could have died, you gain a different perspective. You want to see more, experience more, appreciate everything more. You understand that life can end in an instant. The plans I had before were nice, but now I just want to enjoy life. I deserve it."
'People skipped over me because I’m a woman'
Why do you think International Women’s Day is important?
Karina: "If people visiting the rehab unit to meet wounded soldiers skipped over me because I’m a woman and didn’t think I was a soldier — let alone a combat soldier — then yes, we still need this day to honor strong women. I’m proud that I fought and that I was wounded in combat."
Michelle: "Absolutely. It’s important to use this day to show how strong women are."
Who are the women who inspire you?
Michelle: "First and foremost, myself. I never gave up on myself, and I am my own biggest inspiration. And of course, my mom—she left everything behind to take care of me."
Karina: "My mom, too. She dressed my wounds when I was at my worst, when I was in terrible shape."
What message would you like to share ahead of International Women’s Day?
Michelle: "To women who, like me, are facing challenges—the most important thing is willpower. I believed I would talk again, walk again, and the people around me believed in me too. And here I am, slowly getting my life back."
Karina: "At first, I wasn’t okay—and that’s okay too. You have to give yourself space for that. My message is to understand when to ask for help—both physically and mentally—and to know that things get better. It’s temporary, and you just have to keep working hard and moving forward."