Two Canadian health workers now helping emergency medical teams in Ukraine say they are witnessing the horrors and inhumanity of the Russian invasion first-hand.
鈥淪o many atrocities,鈥� Ann, a former nurse with the Canadian military who asked that her last name not be used, told 麻豆影视 in a Zoom call from Kyiv. 鈥淲e are seeing all kinds of horrendous things that no normal person should be seeing.鈥�
Ann said she has heard terrible allegations made about the actions of the Russian troops.
鈥淵esterday we met with a girl who was raped by Russians. Another lady, the Russians basically broke her arm,鈥� Anne said, adding that the woman told them the soldiers simply wanted her cell phone.
Another volunteer said that older Ukrainians are especially vulnerable.
鈥淭he elderly people, they鈥檝e suffered a lot,鈥� Elena Bulakhtina a physician from Hamilton, Ontario, told 麻豆影视. 鈥淭hey are crying and saying, 鈥榃hy am I still alive?鈥欌��
The two health workers are volunteering with the (PFVMH), a civilian health group responding to emergencies amid the war in Ukraine. Co-founder Gennadiy Druzenko told 麻豆影视 there are 50 volunteers working in 11 unarmoured ambulances treating people in distressed communities. Organizers estimate their group has helped some 5,000 Ukranians with donated supplies since the start of the invasion.
They are now working outside of Kyiv and Zhytomyr. But recently they were dispatched to Buscha, the site of recent brutal attacks by the Russians. While trauma cases have been taken to hospital, the two Canadians said they have been treating shrapnel wounds and injuries from explosives. They are also seeing people coming out of the shadows with untreated diabetes and uncontrolled cancers.
鈥淢edicine here doesn鈥檛 follow guidelines,鈥� says Bulakhtina. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all improvised with whatever supplies are available at the moment.鈥�
The two Canadians said they have been giving Ukrainians what supplies they can.
鈥淭he teams also hand out medication and other medical supplies, along with toothbrushes, soap. Many have gone without electricity and water for weeks. They鈥檙e very happy to see baby wipes,鈥� said Ann.
It was seeing the human suffering from the comfort of their Canadian homes, that both said, that drew them here. Ann left her home in the Gaspe Region of Quebec 10 days ago.
"I decided on a Sunday morning. I said that鈥檚 it. I gotta go. Whatever I can contribute,鈥� she said.
Ann found the name of the PFVMH and emailed Druzenko. Within 30 minutes, Ann said she was invited to join them.
鈥淢y kids are grown up and gone. My husband is a very good husband. He鈥檚 retired as well. So it was a perfect time,"Ann said.
Her family, she said, was less certain.
鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 think it was a good idea,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut no matter what I do they support me because they know it all comes from the heart.鈥�
For Bulakhtina, working in Ukraine is even more complex. She was born in Russia and worked as an ICU doctor in Moscow. But she left over a decade ago to work in Hamilton as a Forensic Pathologist and as an assistant professor at McMaster University.
Her family and friends are still in Russia.
鈥淚ronically, my mom does not believe that there is war in (Ukraine),鈥� said Bulakhtina.
鈥淲hen I call her and say, Mom, would you like to hear the stories 鈥� the atrocities 鈥�(that) I鈥檓 seeing myself? But she does not believe me,鈥� she said.
Bulakhtina said she鈥檚 also lost a few friends who tell her the deaths of Ukrainian women and children are 鈥渃ollateral damage that has to be done.鈥�
鈥淪o I can鈥檛 be friends with these people anymore,鈥� she said.
Despite her clear Russian heritage, Bulakhtina said everyone she鈥檚 met and treated has been kind.
鈥淣obody has said anything derogatory or bad, though I was prepared ... because emotions are high now.鈥�
Bulakhtina said she is planning to continue volunteering for the next month.
鈥淚鈥檝e never seen so much unity, so much mutual support,鈥� said Bulakhtina.鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I came here. And I鈥檓 absolutely certain Ukraine is going to be victorious.鈥�
Ann said that coming to Ukraine made her 鈥渇eel a little bit better about humanity.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e not just sitting around and looking at the news and doing nothing," she said.
Even as non-combat medical professionals, working in a war zone can be extremely dangerous. Russian attacks have targeted medical facilities. In some cities, ambulances have been bombed.
The PFVMH says some of its armoured medical units have been shot at, showing 麻豆影视 photos of one riddled with bullet holes. Fortunately, Druzenko says, none of his medics were hurt.
Druzenko said he now hopes to order three new Canadian-made armoured ambulances, sitting ready in factory in Mississauga, Ontario. But fundraising is a priority, he said.
鈥淲e just beg and pray for armoured ambulances and that just saves lives,鈥� he told 麻豆影视.
