Ukraine

Op Interbow: Specialised medical training being given to Ukrainian armed forces' medics

Watch: Operation Interbow, the specialised training being given to the Ukrainian armed forces' medics

Since the start of the war, more than 52,000 Ukrainians have been trained in the UK in basic battlefield first aid and over 450 in combat medic skills.

However, the UK-designed Platoon Combat Medical Training Programme is more specialised.

BFBS Forces News was granted access to see how the medics are trained to deal with the most difficult medical situations possible in conflict.

As the war has progressed, the needs have changed, and this training has been specially designed to cover areas requested by the Ukrainian armed forces.

The tailored programme now includes scenarios like delivering care with little or no light available, dealing with mass casualties, caring for trauma patients for lengthy periods with barely any resources, delivering care in transit and chemical warfare scenarios.

The training is part of Operation Interbow, which is giving the Ukrainians specialist training in areas like engineering and medicine.

Lance Corporal Liam Webb, Mobilised Reservist, Honourable Artillery Company, said: "I think taking them from zero to [a] qualified medic, knowing that they’re going to be treating patients on their own and out there.

"That's a big burden to make sure you get it right and that they are ready for it because either way they're going back to a war."

The students come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some are doctors, others are architects and electricians with no formal knowledge of how to save lives.

"Before the war, life was fantastic," 'Anna', a member of the Ukrainian armed forces, who cannot be named for security reasons, said. "I was a student, life was good."

The tailored programme now includes scenarios like delivering care with little or no light available
The tailored programme now includes scenarios like delivering care with little or no light available

It is an intense six-week-long course that can teach around 50 Ukrainian trainees at a time.

The aim of the programme is to train 300 medics throughout the year.

The UK is running the course alongside partner nations Iceland, New Zealand, USA and the Netherlands in the north of England.

LCpl Webb added: "They're going to have not enough resources and not enough training. Even if I had them here for 10 weeks, I just try to teach them more and more.

"So, it's difficult to know that we're getting it right.

"We're giving them the best possible experience. That's why you put so much effort into it."

'Anna' spoke about getting out of her comfort zone during the course.

"There's lots of blood, lots of action going on," she said. "Of course, if a person is not prepared for that, they would just get lost somewhere."

The aim of the programme is to train 300 medics throughout the year
The aim of the programme is to train 300 medics throughout the year

While the course is ongoing in the UK, the war keeps going on back home in Ukraine.

Some of the Ukrainians had lost their entire unit while they were training on the course, LCpl Webb revealed.

In addition, a student's husband was killed in battle while she was taking part in the programme.

LCpl Webb described that the way that the Ukrainians deal with their friends and partners dying in the conflict is seen as "worryingly normal" and "eye-opening".

The Ukrainians gave their thoughts on returning to the conflict after the course.

"I just don't really feel anything," 'Anna' said.

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