The brutal realities of the Ukraine conflict are nowhere more evident than on the frontlines, where medical care for injured soldiers becomes an ever-present challenge amid relentless warfare. With the war now entering its third year, the Ukrainian forces are utilizing advanced technologies like drones for combat, but these same tools are causing unprecedented difficulties for medics offering frontline medical assistance.
A story from the frontline captures this harrowing experience through the eyes of "Sasha" (not his real name), a 28-year-old infantryman with the Ukrainian army’s Third Assault Brigade. Sasha recounts the grim experience of dodging drones: "When you hear a drone, you run as fast as you can and see if you can reach any trees. If you’re out in the open, you try to get the drone behind you, so it won’t destroy your face. It’s not panic, this running; it’s a professional response. You know what you have to do to save your life and you do it."
During one particularly harrowing two-hour period, Sasha’s unit faced over 40 drone strikes. The heavy use of drones has drastically transformed the nature of warfare on the Ukrainian front, with Iranian-made Shahed drones taking center stage as well as improvised commercial quadcopters turned lethal. While the warfare tactics evolve, so too must the strategies employed by military medics.
Employing first world war techniques of shrapnel extraction, medics often work under dire conditions with rudimentary medical equipment. This reality was starkly illustrated as Sasha arrived at the makeshift field hospital after sustaining injuries from shrapnel lodged deep within his shoulder. The surgery was swift, employing only local anesthesia, reflecting both the dire constraints of time and resources. "This is a scratch," he shrugged off as he negotiated with the medical staff to get back to his unit immediately after surgery.
According to reports, approximately 30 wounded soldiers pass through this field hospital each day, and when combat intensifies, this number can double or even triple. Each visit is fraught with urgency as medics must contend with the omnipresent threat of drone attacks themselves. Dr. Viktoriia Kovach, the chief medical officer of the Third Assault Brigade, emphasizes the strains this places on the medical response: "When someone is hit, we can see them on the screen from our drones, but so can the Russians. Our troops have to try to drag the casualty under cover, otherwise they’ll be killed by drones."
These snags pose significant dangers. The timely treatment of injuries, especially those requiring quick evacuation, is often hindered by relentless drone surveillance and strikes. Victims left stranded on the battlefield are at risk of dying before help can reach them, diminishing the effectiveness of the care they might receive.
Inside the field hospital, equipped with only the bare essentials, doctors and nurses demonstrate incredible resilience as they continue to save lives amid warfare. A paediatric surgeon has transitioned to trauma surgery under the most extreme stress. "We have to balance the risks of opening up a patient’s skull with those of getting trapped above ground when bombardment starts," shared civilian neurosurgeon Andrii Myzak. The lack of resources contrasts sharply with the enormity of the task at hand.
One gustily autumn evening, as the medics prepare for yet another delivery of wounded soldiers, it becomes clear just how dire their circumstances truly are. The staff at these field hospitals work under constant threat not only from enemy fire but from the psychic toll of enduring repeated trauma and loss. Many combat medics are reported to be on antidepressants or receiving online therapy to cope with the relentless nature of their work, illustrating the war's harrowing psychological impact.
For Dr. Jenya, who previously practiced anaesthesia and signed up to defend his family, the emotional toll of this experience cannot be understated. "I have very bad sleep," he explains. "You have to be prepared, tense, always ready for action. The early days were hard seeing so much suffering, then I was sent to Bakhmut, which broke me even more. Something died inside me. Too much horror. I stopped being able to feel."
The sheer volume of patients needing care is staggering; on many occasions, medics have treated thousands of casualties, as Dr. Jenya recalls encountering between 6,000 and 7,000 combined military and civilian injuries during his tenure. The unprecedented nature of this conflict has changed how the world views war and the realities those fighting within it must face.
With medical resources stretched thin and the emotional burden weighing heavily on medical staff, support systems become pivotal for the survival and well-being of those on the frontlines. Despite these pressures, the medics maintain hope and purpose. "We are defending our homes, our land, our children. We can’t stop," says Dr. Jenya resolutely, reflecting the unwavering spirit of those thrust unwillingly onto the frontlines of conflict.
This complex interplay of technology, tactics, and human emotion is reshaping how wars are fought and the ways medics respond to suffering on the battlefield. The experiences of Sasha, Dr. Kovach, and Dr. Jenya paint a vivid yet tragic picture of medical care amid war—a narrative of resilience against adversity, the need for swift action, and the unwavering hope to save lives against all odds.