Emergency medical system effectively destroyed in occupied Lysychansk
Lysychansk (Photo: AFU GenStaff/Facebook)
Emergency medical care in the Russian-occupied city of Lysychansk has effectively collapsed, with just one emergency paramedic left to serve the entire city, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) wrote on Feb. 8.
The remaining paramedic is forced to act simultaneously as both dispatcher and field medic for a population of roughly 30,000. When the medic leaves to respond to a call, the ambulance station is left empty, making it impossible for residents to reach emergency services by phone.
As a result, medical assistance is no longer provided based on urgency. Instead, patients are treated on a first-come, first-served basis. Some residents who attempt to seek help in person reportedly find the ambulance station locked due to the absence of any staff.
"The occupation authorities are fully aware of the crisis but have taken no meaningful steps to address it," CCD wrote.
"The shortage of medical personnel, equipment, and basic organization remains unresolved."
The breakdown is attributed to multiple factors, including the departure of medical professionals from the occupied territory, refusals by some staff to work under occupation, and the diversion of limited medical resources primarily to treat wounded Russian soldiers.
Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Lysychansk had a population of more than 93,000. Even after most residents fled, the presence of only one emergency medic underscores the near-total absence of a functioning healthcare system for civilians.
"This situation serves as a stark example of the consequences of Russian occupation," CCD concluded, highlighting the degradation of basic public services and the erosion of civilian safety and dignity.
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