Themes by tag: doctors

The serviceman with the call sign “Darwin” was mobilized a few weeks after the start of russia’s full-scale invasion. The military man says that he did not hesitate before this decision, but he had to settle the affairs he had in civilian life. “Darwin” is a doctor by profession, his expertise is in DNA analysis. Before the big war, the soldier combined medicine and IT work: he wrote code for DNA analysis that would help detect genetic diseases in children. “Darwin” has applied to Oakland University in Michigan, the U.S. and was supposed to begin his studies in the fall of 2022. However, he decided to postpone his education until Ukraine’s victory.

Now “Darvin” is at the front, journalists are welcome to communicate with him online or – by agreement – in one of the settlements in Kharkiv region. 

• doctors
• military

Yurik Mkrtchian is a military doctor. He worked as an anesthesiologist and intensivist at the Dnipro Military Hospital. At the end of March 2022, he was informed that there was a shortage of doctors in Mariupol, where heavy fighting was taking place. So Yurik arrived in the city. Rescued people at Illich Steel and Iron Works. 

On April 12, 2022, along with other medical workers, Yurik Mkrtchian was taken prisoner. First, they were taken to a filtration camp in Sartana. The camp was set up on the territory of a destroyed farm. The prisoners had to sleep on the floor, and they ate only once a day. And even in those conditions, doctors tried to continue treating wounded Ukrainian soldiers. A few days later, the prisoners were transferred to the penal colony in Olenivka. And from October 16 to November 3, the man was detained in occupied Horlivka. In total, the doctor spent 206 days in captivity.

For reference: more than 500 Ukrainian doctors are currently forcibly detained by russia, including both civilians and military medics, the Center for Civil Liberties reports. Journalists are welcome to request comments from the Center’s experts.

• doctors
• military
• prisoners

On August 15, training for future medical volunteers will take place in Kyiv. Such courses in Ukraine are organized on a regular basis by the volunteer medical battalion “Hospitallers.” Training in the capital will last 7-10 days.

Journalists are welcomed to cover the process of medical training.

For reference: “Hospitallers” is a volunteer paramedic organization. It was founded by Yana Zinkevych at the beginning of hostilities in Ukraine in 2014. Then russia annexed Crimea and started hostilities in the east of the country.

• doctors
• Kyiv

On Friday, August 11, Center for Endoprosthetics, Osseointegration and Bionics will hold a press conference. In particular, the participants will announce the first shoulder osseointegration surgery and there will be a knee replacement surgery demonstration.

Military personnel who have already received free surgical assistance invited to the press conference include:

Oleksandr Davydov, who was seriously injured in the explosion while providing cover for his brothers in arms with his own body;

Roman Kuksiuk, who was wounded during fierce fighting near Bakhmut;

Andrii Oshlakov, who came under artillery fire near Lysychansk;

The format of the press conference includes a demonstration of knee arthroplasty technique. Serhii Mynder will undergo surgery. In 2015 he joined the intelligence service and was wounded during the Anti-Terrorist Operation. With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, he went to war again. He went through Bucha, Marinka, Kozelets and Troitske.

Leading doctors of the country will take part in the event. The “Life Saving Center” charitable foundation provides free treatment of servicemen at the Center for Endoprosthetics, Osseointegration and Bionics.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Kyiv

In Kyiv, animal-assisted therapy classes are held for defenders undergoing treatment. A pilot rehabilitation project therapy sessions with animals for the military take place in one of the capital’s medical institutions. The Kyiv Zoo joined the project. (All animals are closely monitored by veterinarians and have the necessary vaccinations.)

For reference: Animal-assisted therapy is a type of therapy that incorporates interaction with animals. The therapeutic intervention aims to improve the patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functions.

• animals
• doctors
• military
• psychological support
• Kyiv

Mariana Mamonova, 31, is a doctor, Armed Forces of Ukraine Medical Service Captain who has been traveling to the ATO/JFO area since 2018.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she served in Mariupol. In mid-March, she found out that she was bearing a child. Despite pregnancy, she continued to save the lives of others. Later, together with her colleagues and dozens of civilians, she was at the Illich Steel and Iron Works. She was captured by the occupiers on April 4. The pregnant woman spent six months in the Olenivka colony. On September 21, she was set free. Four days after the exchange, she gave birth to a daughter.

For reference: more than 500 Ukrainian doctors are currently being forcibly detained across Russia. There are both civilian and military doctors among them, according to the Center for Civil Liberties. Journalists can also ask for the Center’s experts’ comments.

• doctors
• military
• prisoners
• women

On August 8, the Lots of Care project, aimed at multidisciplinary rehabilitation for wounded defenders, will be presented at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform. 

Participants:

Serhii Kryzhanovskyi, Chief Doctor at a rehabilitation center

Oleksandr Hudimov, Serviceman in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Oleksandr Gudimov, soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Olga Kharlan, Ukraine fencer, Olympic champion.

The “Lots of Care” project aims to raise funds for the high-quality rehabilitation of injured military personnel by selling lots at auction (about 50 famous people will sell lots). All the funds raised will be used for the effective rehabilitation of our defenders.

Event accreditation is required.

• casualties
• doctors
• military
• Kyiv

Alisa Shramko took her first first-aid training back in 2018. It was a Hospitallers volunteer medical battalion course. Together with Hospitallers, Alisa went on her first deployment. Later, she became a combat medic instructor for new medics and recruit soilders.

When Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, Alisa was pregnant with her second child. The woman says that the pregnancy was challenging, but despite the difficulties, Alisa escaped from the hospital to conduct first aid training. The paramedic kept taking lessons until she gave birth. After the baby was born, she signed an enlistment contract with the Fastiv First Aid Station, started serving in the capital, and took up the position of a medical corps instructor. Now she often takes her children with her to hold training for newcomers. As a civilian, Alisa works at the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life in the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

• culture
• doctors
• military
• women

Roman is an artist from Lviv who taught at the Ukrainian Academy of Printing. On the first day of the full-scale war, he voluntarily joined the Armed Forces. In between combat missions and shelling, he drew with pencils.

He was badly wounded in June this year near Bakhmut. Shrapnel cut the right side of his body. The arm he used to paint with was injured by shrapnel, and his traumatized. Doctors managed to save both limbs.

Now the guy is rehabilitating at the UNBROKEN Center and can hold a brush in his hand again. Roman even had his first master class for UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Center, where he taught other wounded defenders how to paint.

• casualties
• culture
• doctors
• military

Viktoriia Kovach has been fighting since 2014, went to the front as a combat medic, and now heads the medical service of the 3rd separate assault brigade. Apart from active duty, Viktoriia has worked at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and has been involved in advocating for the rights of interns and expanding their powers. After her victory, the combat medic dreams of getting a good night’s sleep, reading a book, and hiking in the mountains. 

• doctors
• military