Ukraine's frontline cities may be left without ambulance crews
Myrnohrad medics received written layoff notices (Photo: Serhii Okunev / NV)
40+ ambulance workers from Myrnohrad face layoffs in the Novodonetsk municipality, Donetsk Oblast, leaving the frontline area at risk of losing emergency care, Novyny Donbasa (Donbas News) reported on Feb. 16.
Medics called the decision illegal, warning that residents of Novodonetske and neighboring Dobropillia municipalities — located near the frontline — could lose access to rapid medical assistance.
Workers received written layoff notices earlier this month due to "staff reductions" effective April 1. The document was signed by the director of the Regional Center for Emergency Medical Aid, who claimed there were no other vacancies matching their qualifications.
The enterprise later justified the layoffs by citing insufficient funding and a population decrease in the service area.
However, the ambulance crews argue they serve a much wider zone, including Bilozerske, Sviatohirsk, and Dobropillia - areas, frequently targeted by Russian shelling.
They also provide critical aid to wounded soldiers and transport them to hospitals.
In their appeal, the medics emphasized that the cuts will disproportionately affect the remaining elderly population in the war-torn region.
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