Russian forces deliberately target Ukraine medical staff

Frontline medical staff are being targeted by enemy fire more than in any other war, according to a humanitarian charity.

Medics4Ukraine, which trains combat medical staff, says Ukrainian armed forces doctors, nurses and paramedics are removing red crosses from their uniforms to avoid them being identified and deliberately attacked by the Russians. Professor Mark Hannaford, founder of the charity, said: “Medics are specifically targeted by the occupying forces and considered as high-value targets.

“This is happening in Ukraine more than any conflict I can recall. This puts them in the firing line while trying to save the lives of those injured in war. It is probably one of the most dangerous posts on the front line.

“Our UK volunteers have combat medical experience and take convoys of urgently needed medical supplies.”

Last week a newborn baby was killed at a hospital in Vilnyansk, in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, when a Russian airstrike hit the building. The baby’s mother and doctor survived after being rescued from the rubble, officials say.

The Foreign Office said last week that Russia is deliberately bombing hospitals and other medical facilities. The World Health Organisation has recorded 703 attacks on hospitals and medical facilities since February.

It is believed to be more than the number of Russian attacks identified in Syria over 10 years.

Former Inverurie firefighter, Luksz Fajt, now living in Poland, has played a major role in helping Medics4Ukraine establish training for Ukrainian forces.

“Life-saving skills I learned in Aberdeenshire with the fire service and latterly as an offshore industry safety trainer, have inspired me to support Medics4Ukraine train hundreds of combat medics.

“Ukrainian combat medics are now taking crosses off their uniforms for fear of being identified. It increases their chances of survival.

“I am only too happy to play my role in helping make training possible for combat medics in Ukraine.

“I spent eight years between 2007 and 2015 as a crew manager in Inverurie before moving on to work in health and safety training in the offshore industry.”

Medics4Ukraine say the former firefighter was instrumental in setting up the training of hundreds of Ukrainian combat medics.

Trainer and UK paramedic Luca Alfatti said: “He made the contacts and routes possible for us to train combat medics in Lviv.

“The need to save people and military is great. At one training session we were told 20 would be there and 100 turned up.

“Those we train go on to instruct others in life-saving skills, too.”

The organisation has provided more than £1.1 million of medical training and life-saving equipment to Ukraine.