Oksana has been working for us as a doctor in Ukraine for more than a year. In this short interview, the native Ukrainian gives us an insight into her daily experiences.

What is your role in this mission?

I’m an anaesthesiologist, here I work as a doctor on an evacuation mission.

How would you describe the situation in Ukraine?

Everything becomes worse. Warfare does not stop, Russia is constantly shelling Ukrainian territories along the front line, capturing more and more new territories and destroying everything in its path, and also regularly attacks with missiles deep into the country. People become drained.

Oksana in one of our three ambulances, which
are stationed in three cities in eastern Ukraine.
Photo: CADUS

How has your experience of the work been?

It’s hard work. In addition to the fact, that we provide medical care to severely injured persons, on ventilator, unstable, etc., this has to be done in unfavorable conditions: in constant noise, vibration, in various adverse weather conditions, at nights.

Has there been a particular moment that has stuck with you?
At the beginning of my career I remembered difficult medical cases. Now mostly these are cases that cause an emotional response.

For example, a lonely elderly man, whose house was destroyed after a shelling and he was living at his friend’s place. When the friend died, the elderly man made a suicidal attempt and blew up a grenade in his hands.

Caring for the patients is stressfuland partic-
ularly strenuous in a vehicle, over half require
intensive medical care. Photo: CADUS

I have seen a “Passport of a citizen of Ukraine” with a piece of shrapnel stuck in it. The casualty carried the document in his left breast pocket and stayed alive. A bit symbolic.

Last week we evaluated a guy with a severe head injury, who has a tattoo of Little Prince from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry book on his shoulder. I’ve glued a cardio monitor sensor near the peacefully sitting Prince and was thinking about life all the way.

What is the most urgent need right now?

In fact, there are many needs. From medical equipment, medicines and consumables to various training courses, psychological support for victims and care providers, etc.