Ukraine combat medics bring war-damaged ambulance to UK streets

Combat medics who have served on the frontline of the war in Ukraine have been sharing their experiences as they tour a battle-damaged ambulance around the UK.

The vehicle was bombed in Kharkiv in 2022 and is one of several items from the frontline on show to coincide with the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Members of the Hospitallers Medical Battalion have been travelling to cities up and down the country bringing a sense of the violence and destruction of the war.

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Iryna Knyzhnyk said: "It's quite dangerous, of course – it's a lot of pain. We experience the most disgusting side of the war.

"We usually see a lot of death, see a lot of wounded people, crushed bodies, burned bodies and it's quite stressful.

"They say that it's more stressful to be a medic than to be infantry."

Around 200 medics have been killed by Russian weapons during the invasion as Ukraine battles against the invading forces.

Kateryna Pryimak added: "They continue to be Russian targets because Russia also bombs hospitals, civilian hospitals, schools and all our civilian infrastructure.

"This is a regular civilian ambulance which works with the civilian medics which works with civilians.

"We continue to fight because we don't have any choice – be destroyed or be occupied or continue to fight... for democracy and for liberty."

The Ukraine Solidarity Project has organised the cities tour which has visited London, Manchester and Liverpool before stopping off in Edinburgh, reminding people in the UK of the destruction the invasion has brought to the lives of many in the country.

And, two years on from the Russian invasion, the vehicle is a stark reminder that Ukraine still needs help and more equipment if it is to survive.

Brandon Mitchell – who served in the Canadian and British Army before volunteering as a medic in Ukraine – said: "We couldn't do what we do without Western support, Western training.

"We have so many guns – we're running out of ammunition.

"Up until Christmas, I serve in Kherson in the south. Our artillery firing is virtually non-existent now and we have the guns."

The medics will take the ambulance to Cardiff before they end the tour in London.