Ukraine war: Ambulance ‘saturated with blood’ amid warnings of ‘absolutely nothing safe’ in Donbas region | World News

After months of fighting and a devastating artillery battle, much of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine has been abandoned by the people living here.

There are few pedestrians and even fewer shops and services to be seen. When you see traffic, it is usually connected with war.

Tanks and aircraft carriers – even mobile missile launchers – slam into highways and roads. As I write this sentence, four self-propelled artillery vehicles have just passed in front of the hotel window.

However, there are moments in the Donbas when normalcy intrudes – and it can happen in unexpected places.

During a visit to a special ambulance base in Slovyansk, we saw a medical student named ‘Scyth’ (pronounced Skiff) doing morning exercises. He does his routine under a tree because he doesn’t want the Russian drones to see him.

Kyiv thwarts ‘terrorist attack’ against leader’ – see latest updates on Ukraine war

Nearby, his colleague ‘Van Damme’ smashed his fist and foot against a tree during a freestyle martial arts training session. He works as a bodyguard for the ambulance crew because his duty is to keep rescuers safe.

‘For the Russians, it doesn’t matter what gets hit’

Ambulances are protected under international law but Van Damme says nothing is safe in Donbas.

“No, absolutely nothing is safe. They always drop bombs somewhere nearby. It doesn’t matter what bullets they get. I’m absolutely certain.”

The peace broke when the first call came in and we watched them run into the ambulance.

The team are volunteers from a charity called ‘Pirogov First Mobile Hospital’ and they are tasked with searching for wounded soldiers.

The Ukrainians was suffering heavy casualties on the front, and officials were beginning to put the numbers on it. Every day, more than 100 service members die, with an average of 500 wounded.

When Scyth and his team returned, I asked him what type of injury they treated.

“Oh, as always. Sad, but as always.”

“Is it cannon, is it shooting?” I ask.

“It’s a firecracker,” he said, shrugging.

‘This is like World War I’

Scyth trained in Kiev to become a plastic surgeon but his life took an unexpected turn. Now, 90% of all the people he treats are hit by shrapnel from shells.

“Sometimes it’s all covered with blood. When we have a leg amputated, an arm amputated, or a major wound (in) the torso, there’s blood on the floor, blood on the wall, all of our pants.” My shirt is all bloody, I can show you. This is like World War I, when the soldiers stay in their places and just wait under the artillery.”

Within minutes, they were back on the road, and this time, we were allowed to follow.

Read more:
Is Putin really sick? Expert says he could be ‘a hypocrite’ – and uses Botox regularly

Severodonetsk factory soldiers surrender as President Zelenskyy says military losses are ‘painful’

Several soldiers were hit by artillery fire and a medical team was sent to a pick-up point near the front.

They hid under the trees by the roadside and waited for the casualties to arrive – the threat posed by Russian Drones are a constant worry.

Finally, several soldiers were brought to our position and a man with multiple bullet holes was brought into our ambulance.

However, they barely managed to tie him up when a barrage of mortars landed nearby. Obviously, this is not the place to hang around.

They stabilized the soldier in the back of the truck and rushed to the local hospital. In a few weeks, they think he might be back on the front lines.

This is what Ukrainians expect and what this country needs. Scyth and his team say they’ll do their best.