"There is no silver lining" - as optimistic Ukrainians say about the hopeless situation.

War is no exception: in the last couple of years military medicine, the army in the Ukraine, the volunteer movement, intensified support of Ukraine in the international arena started actively growing. As for the experience of Israel, which for many decades has been at war, such difficult historical periods can be a good impetus for the development of science, technology, help to structure the army and bring a new level of intelligence work.

An example of such development is the special unit of the Israeli army, which is called "Flying Cats". Soldiers of the Special Forces unit perform a special missions: soldiers operate in deeply behind enemy lines, but their purpose is not to cause damage to the enemy but saving the lives of soldiers. A feature of the Israeli army is that soldiers are not left on the battlefield, no matter where it is. And it’s applied not only to wounded, and even killed: to leave the body for IDF is a real force majeure. Unit 669 - such is its official name - is provides search and rescue of pilots whose planes were shot down deep in the enemy rear. They recruit top military physicians, the best pilots of helicopters and the best trackers. According to some aspects (for example, the health factor) requirements for Unit 669 is even higher than in any other Israeli commandos.

Units history began in 1974, after the Yom Kippur War: when the Israeli air force suffered heavy losses, and the infantry could not evacuate the pilots. It was then when Israel formed a special unit of rescue aviation including paratroopers and military medics. The unit received a number of 669: according to one version, two sixes symbolize the two eyes that see excellent, nine - the number of the cat lives. In Hebrew, the cat - "Hatul" and a call sign of division 669 fighters - "Hatul" and emblem is the green-eyed cat with black wings.

At the beginning the unit included a total of 12 soldiers and officers who have been given an unlimited right to create and experience a completely new methods and technologies to save lives in situations where it would seem there is no chance of escape. Now, as in the 75th year, the fighters of the unit undertake intensified training with parachutes, climbing, scuba diving, medical assistance, and combat operations in the enemy rear.

Throughout its history, division of 669 participated in numerous wars. Most units 669 combat operations remain classified.

Throughout the period of existence of unit 669 their purpose remains unchanged: fly to the rear of the enemy and rescue the wounded soldiers there. Any mistake can cost the lives of both the injured and the soldiers themselves, so men make decisions instantly. Unit 669 by the right belongs to the elite special forces of the IDF: the selection of fighters requires a high physical and mental preparation. The main criteria for the selection of candidates is the ability to act calmly in an emergency situation.

After 18 years of fighting (1982- 2000), until the full release of Israel from Lebanon, the unit lost 669 just two fighters in Lebanon, six people from the flight crew (including doctors) and two helicopters. But the number of lives saved - military and civilian - during that time counts thousands.