Surgeons in Ukraine Witness Influx of Wounded Soldiers Since Counteroffensive Began

In eastern Ukraine, a harrowing scene unfolds each night at a hospital, as a procession of stretchers carries injured soldiers from the front line.

These soldiers, bearing bandaged limbs soaked in blood, faces covered in shrapnel fragments, and eyes filled with shock, arrive at the Mechnikov Hospital. Lately, the influx of wounded has increased significantly.

The hospital receives these casualties from various areas, including trenches in the east, forests in the north, and open fields in the south. They arrive in the late afternoon, and the flow of patients continues well into the next day, requiring dozens of urgent surgeries.

This surge in wounded soldiers is concurrent with Ukraine’s major counteroffensive launched in June to reclaim territory currently under Russian control, amounting to nearly one-fifth of its land. The Mechnikov Hospital, one of Ukraine’s largest, faces an overwhelming workload, with 50 to 100 surgeries taking place each night.

Dr. Serhii Ryzhenko, the hospital’s chief doctor, acknowledges that this is the worst they’ve seen on the front line. Despite having 50 operating rooms, it’s still insufficient to handle the high number of casualties.

The hospital, typically a place for treating chronic diseases, turns into a battleground every night as soldiers in critical condition arrive for immediate surgery. The gravity of the situation is palpable as doctors and nurses work tirelessly to save lives.

The ongoing counteroffensive, aimed at Russian-occupied regions in the east and south, has proven challenging. Expectations of swift territorial gains from Western donations of military hardware have not been fully met. Meanwhile, Russia’s operations have intensified in the north, further complicating the situation.

Injuries treated at Mechnikov are predominantly caused by shrapnel, followed by bullet wounds. The hospital serves as a crucial point in the soldiers’ journey, as they are stabilized closer to the front line before being brought here for specialized care.

The trauma room is a whirlwind of activity during the evenings, with a constant flow of injured soldiers arriving every 15 minutes. Doctors and staff work tirelessly, treating severe wounds, and making difficult decisions, such as the necessity of amputations to save lives.

Each wounded soldier’s story tells a tale of bravery and sacrifice, with many facing constant bombardments, mines, and snipers while fighting for their country.

Mechnikov Hospital has undergone a profound transformation over the past decade due to the ongoing war. Initially unprepared for the influx of wounded soldiers during Russia’s invasion in 2014, the hospital has now become renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and expertise, serving as a critical lifeline for the brave men and women fighting on the front line.

The dedicated surgeons, nurses, and staff at Mechnikov Hospital continue to work relentlessly, driven by the importance of their mission: to save the lives of those who risk everything to defend their homeland.

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• “The horrors of war arrive through the night at a hospital in eastern Ukraine” (source: AP)
• “Surgeons at Mechnikov are busier now than perhaps at any other time since Russia began its full-scale invasion 17 months ago” (source: AP)
• “In a war where casualty counts are treated as state secrets, the hospital serves as a measurement of distant battles” (source: AP)
• “During the day, Mechnikov functions as a normal hospital, treating patients with cancer and other chronic diseases” (source: AP)
• “Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in multiple combat zones along the 1,500-kilometer front line” (source: AP)
• “The amputation takes 20 minutes. Albayuk uses a surgical saw to cut through the bone.” (source: AP)
• Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine