"Sawed off one disk from a log and realized: this is for me." A 23-year-old forest master from Vileika on felling trees and working in a forestry
How many girls do you know who can assemble a chainsaw in 16 seconds and fell a 25-meter pine with pinpoint accuracy? Yulia Andreeva is one of them. For 4.5 years now, she has been working in the Vileika forestry, distinguishing animal tracks at first glance, and deciduous from coniferous trees by smell, writes "Shlyakh Peramogi".
From April 28 to 30, Yulia, as part of the national team of the Ministry of Forestry, participated in the IV International Festival of Professional Skill "Forest Games: New Standards" and took first place in the "Forest Trail" quest-competition. Moreover, she competed on par with men in the overall standings.
In the "saw chain assembly" discipline, she managed it in 16 seconds.
"It's fast, but it can be even faster," Yulia self-critically assesses herself. "I was nervous, I hadn't participated in competitions for a long time. The last time I went to Minsk region was in 2024, I performed among juniors."
Felling a pine onto a peg
Yulia knows how to not only assemble a saw quickly but also to professionally fell trees. At the competition, her task was a 25-meter pine. She had to hit a "gate" 2 meters wide, in the center of which stood a peg. Falling exactly on the peg is ideal, into the gate is also good.
"I over-insured on the parameters, as their size directly affected the number of points in the discipline. But overall, I am satisfied with the result."
When asked if it's scary to work with a chainsaw, Yulia Andreeva replies:
"In fact, it's more interesting than difficult. It's constant adrenaline, emotions, a sense of control, because you have a small but powerful machine in your hands that you constantly need to monitor. Anything can happen. There is no fear – when working with a saw, you need to remain calm, you can't be nervous, it can lead to an error. Rather, it's an anticipation: a desire to know where it will fall. Will it hit the gate or not?"
"Logger" club and love at first cut
Even in college, Yulia Andreeva became interested in working with a saw. She joined a specialized club "Logger", where she was taught how to handle the tool.
"I literally sawed off one disk from a log and fell in love. I realized that I wanted to try something more," the girl shares her impressions.
Yulia works as a forest master. Her task is documentation, receiving products at the warehouse, issuing patrols, designating felling areas, selling timber, and supervising workers in the felling area. Masters also spend a lot of time in the forest: during active designation, one can walk 10,000 steps before lunch.
The chainsaw our heroine uses, with a full tank, weighs about 8 kilograms.
"If you are in good physical shape, it's easier for you to control the saw," she explains.
To have strong arms, legs, and back, Yulia Andreeva goes to the gym. And at one time she even enjoyed boxing.
In Belarus, she says, there are currently only four girls who possess the skill of felling trees. And she is among them.
The girl admits she came to forestry by chance. But during her studies, she became passionate, and after joining the "Logger" club, she became infected with the idea of professional tree felling. Her mother, of course, worried and was anxious.
"Now, I hope, my mother is proud of me."
Badgers, wolves and... people's misunderstanding
In Yulia's working days, she encounters badgers, foxes, elks, goats, and even wolves. Encountering wildlife so closely, she says, is not scary. Observing animals fills the forest master with admiration. It is much more unpleasant to encounter those who do not accept her choice.
"About 70 percent of people, when they find out that I fell trees, are surprised and admire it. But there are also those who consider it 'a disgrace to forestry,' inappropriate, unwomanly."
Teacher from Vileika and a lucky "two"
Yulia met Valery Durovich from Vileika, who won many tree felling competitions, during her student years.
"Valery Ivanovich came to our college, even trained us for some time. He taught me to understand everything, shared tricks. The experience he passed on still helps me. And he inspired me to move to Vileika – I myself am from the Vitebsk region."
Books, bandana and good luck charms
In her free time from work at the Vyazyn forestry, the girl, who virtuously handles a chainsaw, reads modern novels – it helps her relax. She reads about one book a month, sometimes more.
And Yulia also has her own superstitions. Before each competition, she always wears a bandana. Her participant number must definitely include a two. It has been like that since the very first competitions in 2019, and so far it's been lucky, the forest master admits. And the most important thing before the start is not to let anyone step over the saw. And the day before, she lets someone who truly believes in her and wishes her good luck hold it.
Yulia admits: she would like to participate in competitions more often. And judging by her character, victories, and love for her work – everything is ahead for her.
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