Key facts
- Volunteer rescuers with the Ukrainian Red Cross are assisting civilians in Kyiv following a Russian missile strike.
- The attack on Thursday killed at least 21 people and wounded around 90.
- Rescuers, who hold other day jobs, searched for survivors in a heavily damaged apartment building.
- The State Emergency Service dispatched Ukrainian Red Cross teams to multiple sites during the mass attack.
- Volunteers treated 35 people across Kyiv following the incident.
Volunteer rescuers with the Ukrainian Red Cross are providing critical assistance in Kyiv following a severe Russian missile attack that killed at least 21 people and wounded around 90. The volunteers, who come from diverse professional backgrounds including graphic design and project management, work alongside emergency services to search for survivors in damaged buildings and treat the injured.
Max, a 43-year-old graphic designer, described the mental adaptation to the ongoing conflict, noting the difficulty but also the routine of responding to such events. He and his team were searching a devastated apartment building for survivors even before the air-raid alert was fully lifted. Taras Didenko, a 46-year-old deputy unit commander, highlighted the constant planning and on-the-spot decision-making required by the teams.
In the recent attack, Russia launched 496 drones and 74 missiles, with one missile destroying a section of a nine-storey apartment block. The Ukrainian Red Cross teams, dispatched by the State Emergency Service, assess multiple sites during mass attacks to prioritize the most critical. Volunteers like Max conduct apartment-to-apartment checks to find trapped or unconscious individuals.
The Ukrainian Red Cross operates two dozen teams across the country, responding to various emergencies including car crashes and music festivals when not dealing with air strikes. On Thursday, they treated 35 people in Kyiv. Anet, a 21-year-old project manager and volunteer, noted the unique challenges posed by severe damage to residential buildings.