In Kyiv, a man wounded in a rocket attack was told by ambulance personnel to wait until the all-clear was given
A public outcry has erupted in Kyiv over the emergency medical response following the story of a man who was seriously injured during a massive Russian missile attack. The victim stated that when he called the “103” emergency service, he was told to wait until the air raid alert ended.
According to Kyiv resident Yuriy Tereshchuk, a fragment of a Russian munition shattered the window of his apartment and caused a serious abdominal injury.
The man tried to stop the bleeding on his own and called an ambulance. According to the victim, the dispatcher informed him that the call had been logged, but the ambulance crew would not be able to respond until the air raid alert had ended.
Unable to receive immediate assistance, Tereshchuk also contacted a private clinic. They confirmed receipt of the call but warned that the dispatch of medical personnel during a rocket attack would depend on the willingness of a specific team to work under dangerous conditions.
Eventually, both public and private medical teams did go to the victim. The emergency medical team arrived first and provided the necessary care on the scene. Afterward, the private service transported the man to the hospital.
The Kyiv Emergency Medical Care Center emphasizes that an air raid alert in and of itself is not grounds for refusing to respond to an emergency call. At the same time, medical personnel have the right to assess the level of threat to their own lives and safety while traveling through the city.
Olga Bohdan, head of one of Kyiv’s emergency departments, explained that calls during airstrikes are accepted and processed without waiting for the all-clear. However, in the event of intense shelling, the crew may temporarily take cover in a safe location if there is an immediate threat to its members.
Currently, the capital’s ambulance crews are almost fully equipped with body armor and protective helmets. However, the law does not require civilian medical personnel to work under direct fire or in areas of immediate danger.
Following the incident, discussions have begun within the healthcare system about the need to improve response mechanisms during large-scale attacks. The Ministry of Health has already announced the creation of specialized disaster medicine teams, which will undergo additional tactical training and operate according to specific standards.
It is expected that these units will be staffed, in particular, by former military paramedics. They will be granted expanded authority to operate at emergency sites and will be able to arrive at affected areas within minutes of an attack. Plans also call for higher pay and special equipment for these teams.
This was reported by TSN.
