Ukrainian army medics fight to save lives near frontline

Medics treat wounded Ukrainian soldiers inside a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

In a dingy medical outpost near eastern Ukraine's front lines, army medic Viktor battles to save lives on a daily basis.

Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains.

Medics place a wounded Ukrainian soldier in an emergency vehicle to transport him to a hospital, outside a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

The costs of that deadly grind are clear to Viktor's team of seven medics and six nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this "stabilisation point" in the Donetsk region, where battles are fierce.

"The wounded are brought here, we provide treatment, stabilise them and restore vital functions, and send (them) to the next stage of evacuation - to hospitals," said Viktor, who declined to give his full name.

Describing the feeling of being unable to save a life, Viktor, a gynaecologist before the war, said: "It's the worst thing you can imagine."

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Medics treat a wounded Ukrainian soldier in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

The number of patients brought in - up to 25 per day - has risen sharply over the past two weeks, he said, the vast majority wounded by shrapnel.

But bullet wounds are becoming more frequent, a sign that fighting is increasingly at close quarters.

Evacuating soldiers from the frontline, via one of the team's five drivers, usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes, but the wounded sometimes find themselves waiting up to two hours if fighting doesn't let up.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB A wounded Ukrainian soldier sits on the operation table inside a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

That was the case on a recent day in late February, when soldiers Ruslan and Serhiy were brought in for treatment at the heavily sandbagged facility after being fired on by a Russian tank.

Neither had life-threatening injuries, though Ruslan's right foot was mangled. Viktor's team, which belongs to the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, believes he bore the brunt of the hit, helping ensure Serhiy walked away with only a broken arm.

Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners.

Medics treat wounded Ukrainian soldiers in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

"This is our job," said Viktor from inside their outpost, which is festooned with Ukrainian flags and drawings and thank-you notes from children across the country.

"We know what we signed up for."

(Writing by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Frank Jack Daniel)

A wounded Ukrainian soldier holds his belt in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

Medics carry a wounded Ukrainian soldier on a stretcher to transport him to a hospital, outside a frontline medical stabilisation point amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

Bloody stretchers are left outside a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica .

Medics treat a wounded Ukrainian soldier in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

Drawings made by children hang on the walls inside a frontline medical stabilisation point where medics treat war wounds, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

General surgeon Yuri assists a wounded Ukrainian soldier in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB General practitioner Volodymyr (L) and general surgeon Yuri treat a wounded Ukrainian soldier in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Medics treat wounded Ukrainian soldiers in the operating room of a frontline medical stabilisation point amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

Medics place a wounded Ukrainian soldier on a table in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica .

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB Medics treat a wounded Ukrainian soldier in the operation room of a frontline stabilisation point amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica .

SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB General practitioner Volodymyr assists a wounded Ukrainian soldier in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Yuri, a general surgeon, poses for a picture in a frontline medical stabilisation point where medics treat war wounds, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce.

Olha, a health instructor, poses for a picture in a frontline medical stabilisation point where medics treat war wounds, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica .

Medics treat a wounded Ukrainian soldier in the operation room of a frontline medical stabilisation point amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Medics are seen in a surveillance monitor as they bring patients inside the frontline medical stabilisation point where they treat war wounds, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

Volodymyr, a general practitioner in a frontline medical stabilisation point, poses for a picture inside the operation room where medics treat war wounds, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

Ruslan, an intensive care surgeon in a frontline medical stabilisation point, poses for a picture inside the operation room where medics treat war wounds, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Nearly a year into Russia's invasion, fighting now amounts to attritional duels of artillery and infantry assaults, with neither side making significant gains. The costs of that deadly grind are clear to the team of medics and nurses as it toils away, hemmed in by racks of medical supplies and portable heaters, at this stabilisation point in the Donetsk region where battles are fierce. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

Blood and mud marks the floor next to a pair of boots and the helmet of a wounded Ukrainian soldier, who is being treated in the operating room of a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Adrenaline helps keep the medical team going and enables them to cope with the almost constant flow of wounded soldiers, including some Russians who are later exchanged for Ukrainian prisoners. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

A wounded Ukrainian soldier enters an emergency vehicle before heading to a hospital, outside a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Evacuating soldiers from the frontline, via one of the team's five drivers, usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes, but the wounded sometimes find themselves waiting up to two hours if fighting doesn't let up. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.

Viktor, a surgeon in a frontline medical stabilisation point, poses for a picture inside the operation room where medics treat war wounds, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Describing the feeling of being unable to save a life, Viktor, a gynaecologist before the war, said: "It's the worst thing you can imagine." REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Medics sit in front of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade's flag, which reads "Glory to Ukraine", at a frontline medical stabilisation point, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Vuhledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, February 19, 2023. Both the medics and wounded soldiers at the stabilisation point are part of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, a division of the Ukrainian ground forces. REUTERS/Marko Djurica.