The safest place during hostilities is a purpose-built shelter. If none is available, you can use underground metro stations, basement and semi-basement levels of buildings, underground parking facilities, and pedestrian underpasses. If you hear an air raid siren or receive a warning about shelling or bombing, go to a shelter immediately.  For more details about shelters, see the dedicated guide.

If your home is located in an area of regular armed conflict, you need to strengthen the windows (for example, with adhesive film) – this will help avoid the scattering of broken glass. If possible, close the windows, for example, with sandbags or solid furniture.

When does the alert start sounding?

A missile alert is announced when the Air Defence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has information about the enemy’s intention to launch missiles in the near future. However, sometimes, due to the enemy’s insidious actions, the notification comes already at the moment of missile launch.

Important! 

Be sure to check in advance that your alert notification app is working correctly. Download several of these apps to make sure that you can hear the siren. At night, set the volume to maximum.

Talk with all family members about the algorithm of actions during an alarm:

• how you will act together and individually;
• what you need to take with you to the shelter;
• where to go and how to keep in touch with your family.

Algorithm of actions:

• Immediately react to an air raid alert;
• Always have comfortable clothes and an emergency suitcase with documents, money, necessary medicines and a minimum supply of food and water ready;
• go to a shelter immediately.

Read what else should be in an emergency suitcase in this section.

If the shelter is far from home

Ukraine is capable of intercepting Iskander missiles. For example, seven Iskander-M and three Iskander-K missiles that the enemy launched at Kyiv on June 1 were destroyed. But the destruction of these missiles by air defense systems doesn’t guarantee safety. The threat comes from the debris that falls to the ground.

Therefore, if you can’t or don’t have time to get to a safe shelter, be sure to follow the “two walls” rule. This will save you from damage caused by debris. Read more about shelters here.

Russia has repeatedly used phosphorus munitions on the battlefield and against civilians in Ukraine. The Geneva Conventions prohibit the use of phosphorus weapons in and near populated areas; however, Russia routinely disregards international law. Phosphorus bombs were used against Bakhmut in Donetsk region in attempts to completely destroy the city.

Phosphorus munitions are extremely dangerous and lethal weapons. They contain various types of phosphorus, including white phosphorus — a self-igniting substance that catches fire upon contact with air. Phosphorus is most commonly found in bombs, but it may also be used in mines, artillery shells, rockets, and grenades.

In humans, phosphorus causes severe chemical burns to the skin and damages the respiratory system, bones, and bone marrow.

What to do if a person is exposed to phosphorus munitions

If possible, the first step is to leave the area of the attack. Move away from the burning phosphorus, going upwind.

Call emergency services (the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and emergency medical services). While waiting, begin providing first aid to yourself or the injured person.

Important: do not attempt to extinguish buildings or objects ignited by white phosphorus — it is dangerous.

If a person has phosphorus burns:

• Remove all clothing from the injured person. Do not touch contaminated clothing or phosphorus particles with bare hands — use scissors and wear gloves. Rescuers are also advised to wear a respirator.
• To prevent further burning, immerse the affected area in water. If this is not possible, cover the burn with wet gauze or cloth to create a moisture barrier. This limits the oxygen supply that fuels combustion.
• If clean water is available, gently rinse the skin with cold water for at least 15 minutes, then cover the affected area with a clean, damp cloth or bandage. Water that has come into contact with phosphorus or contaminated clothing is unsafe — avoid contact with it.
• Be extremely cautious around phosphorus combustion byproducts — they can damage the respiratory system and eyes, and cause suffocation.
• Wait for medical personnel and inform them of all known hazards, including chemical burns.

If a chemical substance gets into the eye:

During first aid, it may be difficult to identify the exact substance. If unsure, follow this approach:

• • Cover the injured eye with a rigid eye shield. Secure it with adhesive tape at a 45-degree angle across the forehead and cheek.
  • If a rigid shield is unavailable, use tactical goggles or an improvised shield (such as a paper cup) to protect the eye and prevent pressure or further damage.

• Do not attempt to remove foreign objects.

• Do not cover both eyes unless both are injured.
• Do not use pressure dressings or bandages on eye injuries.
• If a minor irritant enters the eye and the injury is not severe, rinse the eye with clean (preferably drinking) water.

If a person has inhaled or swallowed white phosphorus:

• If breathing is difficult, help the person into a comfortable position.
• If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position.

What NOT to do in case of phosphorus exposure:

• Do not use any liquids other than clean cold water for rinsing.
• Do not apply ointments to burns or wounds — they increase phosphorus absorption and worsen the injury.
• Do not use baking soda or soda solutions. Despite such advice appearing online, it is incorrect.
• Do not use hydrogen peroxide — when it decomposes, it releases oxygen, which can ignite phosphorus.

This guidance is based on recommendations by “FAST: First Aid and Special Training.”

Sources:

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines
• Ministry of Health of Ukraine recommendations

Shelling, debris from downed missiles and shaheds, direct hits – all of this increases the risk of fires in the houses of Ukrainians.

To minimize the risk of fire during an alert, it is worth turning off all gas taps and turning off the electricity before going to a shelter or bomb shelter. This will help reduce the damage caused by falling debris.

If your clothes caught fire:  

• fall to the ground and roll to extinguish the fire
• Do not run: this will make the fire grow bigger

If the clothes of a person next to you caught fire:

• Push the person to the ground

• Throw a large piece of cloth (coat, raincoat, towel) over the person. Without access to oxygen, the flame will go out. You can also extinguish flames on clothing with sand, earth, or snow.
• Leave the head open so that the person does not suffocate from combustion products

Immediately after leaving the premises, you need to assess your condition and the condition of the people around you. You can tell if a person has been poisoned by carbon monoxide by the following signs:

• dizziness
• vomiting
• headache;
• red color of the face;
• fainting.

If these signs are present, the person should be taken out into the fresh air immediately and an ambulance should be called (103).

In case a person has received burns in a fire, first aid should be provided:

1. Sit or lay the victim down.
2. Pour plenty of water over the burns (15 minutes or more, avoid hypothermia).
3. If possible, remove rings, watches, belts, and shoes from the affected areas before swelling occurs.
4. Remove clothing that is almost burnt or smoldering only if it is not stuck to the affected areas. Anything that is stuck should not be touched under any circumstances!
5. Protect burns by covering them with a clean, lint-free cloth.
6. Call an ambulance (103).
7. Do not apply any creams, oils, or butters to the burns and do not puncture the blisters.
8. Give the victim plenty of water and do not allow him or her to move until the doctors arrive.

If the fire in the building where you are staying is small, you can try to extinguish it yourself with a fire extinguisher before the rescuers arrive.

How to choose a fire extinguisher

The types of fire extinguishers are determined by the class of fire they can extinguish. There are the following classes of fires:

1. Solid combustible materials, e.g. wood, paper, fabric.
2. Liquid and solid substances that melt.
3. Gaseous substances.
4. Metals and their alloys.
5. Combustion of appliances up to 1000 W.
6. Plant and animal oils, fats.

There are four types of fire extinguishers for extinguishing fires of different classes:

1. Powder (can be used to extinguish everything except the sixth type of fire).
2. Water-foam is used for fires of the first and second class. It cannot be used to extinguish electrical appliances.
3. Carbon dioxide is suitable for the second and fifth types of fires. Warm gloves should be worn when using it, as it reduces the temperature up to -70 degrees.
4. A water extinguisher is used to extinguish fires of the first class. Do not use it to extinguish electrical appliances.

Which fire extinguisher to choose for your home?

The best option for apartments and private houses is a powder fire extinguisher. It extinguishes most types of fires, including electrical appliances. However, in enclosed spaces, it is necessary to protect the respiratory organs due to the fine composition of the extinguisher.

You can also use a carbon dioxide extinguisher. It extinguishes fires in household appliances and electrical wiring well. In addition, it does not damage things and furniture too much. The most important advantage is that it quickly eliminates the flame due to its strong cooling effect. However, this type of fire extinguisher is not effective during smoldering. And if carpets, furniture, or clothes catch fire, its effect will not be enough.

The material was created in cooperation with the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv

The types of fire extinguishers are determined by the class of fire they can extinguish. There are the following classes of fires:

1. Solid combustible materials, e.g. wood, paper, fabric.
2. Liquid and solid substances that melt.
3. Gaseous substances.
4. Metals and their alloys.
5. Combustion of appliances up to 1000 W.
6. Plant and animal oils, fats.

There are four types of fire extinguishers for extinguishing fires of different classes:

1. Powder (can be used to extinguish everything except the sixth type of fire).
2. Water-foam is used for fires of the first and second class. It cannot be used to extinguish electrical appliances.
3. Carbon dioxide is suitable for the second and fifth types of fires. Warm gloves should be worn when using it, as it reduces the temperature up to -70 degrees.
4. A water extinguisher is used to extinguish fires of the first class. Do not use it to extinguish electrical appliances.

Which fire extinguisher to choose for your home?

The best option for apartments and private houses is a powder fire extinguisher. It extinguishes most types of fires, including electrical appliances. However, in enclosed spaces, it is necessary to protect the respiratory organs due to the fine composition of the extinguisher.

You can also use a carbon dioxide extinguisher. It extinguishes fires in household appliances and electrical wiring well. In addition, it does not damage things and furniture too much. The most important advantage is that it quickly eliminates the flame due to its strong cooling effect. However, this type of fire extinguisher is not effective during smoldering. And if carpets, furniture, or clothes catch fire, its effect will not be enough.

The material was created in cooperation with the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv

In times of crisis, many factors will act against you, including emotions. Therefore, remember that you need to stay organized and focused at a critical moment and don’t react to possible provocations. Your safety will depend on it.

Timely medical care increases the chances of survival and recovery. A wounded person should receive qualified medical care within one hour of injury. Before that, proper first aid must be provided.

Before helping someone else, make sure there is no danger to you, bystanders, or the injured person. Only then proceed.

Approach the injured person from the front so they can see you — this helps reduce unnecessary head movement. Say: “Can you hear me? My name is [state your name]. May I help you?”

How to assess the injured person and provide aid

• Find and stop any massive bleeding. See the instructions below. At the same time, call emergency medical services (use speakerphone) or ask someone nearby to do so.
• Clear the person’s nose and mouth of any foreign objects or fluids.
  • To help restore breathing, tilt the head back: place one hand on the forehead and use the fingers of your other hand to lift the chin.
  • If the person is not breathing, begin chest compressions and rescue breaths.
• After breathing is restored, continue monitoring. Occasional, irregular, slow, or noisy breaths are not normal.
  • During a 10-second check, you should be able to hear, see, or feel breathing.
  • If the person is breathing but unconscious, place them in the recovery position: put the upper arm under the head and bend the upper leg so the knee rests on the ground.
  • If there is no breathing or it is abnormal, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Check the chest. Apply an occlusive dressing to any wound, or cover it firmly with your hand.
• Reassess the entire body, treat all wounds, and stop even minor bleeding.
• Continue monitoring the person until medical help arrives.
• If the condition worsens, call emergency services again.
• Gather as much information as possible about the circumstances of the injury and pass it on to medical personnel/

How to provide first aid for bleeding

• Make sure the scene is safe and you are able to help.
• Put on gloves and, if available, protective eyewear. Always prioritize your own safety.
• Locate the source of bleeding. Remove or cut away clothing to fully expose the wound.
• Try to stop the bleeding using one of these methods:

• Cover the wound with a clean cloth and apply firm pressure with both hands.
• Apply a tourniquet (see instructions below).
• Pack the wound with gauze or clean cloth, then apply firm pressure.

• Keep the person warm and continue monitoring until medical help arrives.

How to apply a tourniquet correctly

• Place the tourniquet 5–8 cm above the wound, or as high as possible on the limb, close to the shoulder or thigh.

• It can be applied over clothing or directly on the skin. Make sure there are no objects in the person’s pockets that could interfere.

• Do not apply a tourniquet over joints.

• Tighten the tourniquet until the bleeding stops — it must be very tight.

• Write down the time the tourniquet was applied on the tourniquet itself or on a visible area of the person’s body.
• Do not remove or loosen the tourniquet under any circumstances.

A mine explosion, a blast wave from a shell, or an extremely loud noise from a missile strike can all cause a concussion.

Signs of a mild concussion include:

• Loss of consciousness for several minutes to several hours
• Disorientation, memory impairment, severe headache
• Nausea, vomiting
• Hearing and vision problems
• Sudden changes in emotional or mental state

The term “concussion” is gradually being replaced, as this condition refers to a brain injury caused by a blast wave — the more accurate term is mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In more severe cases, additional symptoms may include:

• Loss of balance
• Pressing pain in the head or neck
• Tingling or loss of sensation in the fingers or toes
• Inability to move limbs
• Breathing problems or seizures
• Drowsiness
• Discharge of blood or clear fluid from the mouth, nose, or ears

If a person shows several of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

In addition to brain injury, the person may also have internal injuries or fractures — take this into account when providing first aid.

How to provide first aid for a concussion

• Assess your own safety first — you can only help if you are safe.
• If the person’s condition allows, place them on their side.
• Keep the person warm.
• Check the following and address each as needed:

• Life-threatening bleeding — stop it
• Airway — clear it if obstructed
• Breathing — if absent, start CPR
• Other injuries — treat wounds and stop bleeding

• Loosen clothing around the chest and neck if it restricts breathing.

If the person’s condition worsens, call emergency medical services immediately and follow the instructions given by medical professionals.

Ukrzaliznytsia strictly protects the safety of passengers, and therefore passport control of travelers operates at the stations of the country during martial law. In addition, at the main railway stations of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro, an enhanced check was organized, similar to the one that takes place at airports. It includes the following technical means:

• metal detector frames
• X-ray unit
• manual metal detectors

If you notice prohibited items in a carriage neighbor, inform an employee of Ukrzaliznytsia or call the law enforcement officers. An employee of Ukrzaliznytsia is obliged to inform the police about the presence of prohibited items.

The police will conduct an inspection, the violator may face a fine or criminal punishment.

If you are outside and a power line is down nearby

• Do not touch the wires or attempt to repair them.
• If a wire has fallen close to you, leave the area using small shuffling steps or by hopping with your feet together to avoid electric shock.
• If you see a fallen power line, do not approach within 8 meters. Report it to the local electricity provider or maintenance service — contact numbers are usually posted on electrical panels, power cabinets, or transformer substations.
• Find the nearest shelter or return home.

If you are at home and the power goes out

• Unplug electrical appliances to prevent damage from voltage surges.
• Do not use gas stoves for heating — there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• If your building has an elevator, check that no one is trapped inside.
• Check on elderly neighbors and see if they need assistance.
• Follow official updates from authorities or the State Emergency Service. If mobile networks are down, use a battery-powered radio.
• If you use a generator, place it outside and away from windows.

What to have prepared at home:

• A battery-powered radio and flashlights
• A supply of matches, candles, and solid fuel tablets
• A charged power bank
• At least a one-week supply of drinking water and canned or freeze-dried food
• A first aid kit, including personal medications for at least one week

Due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, street lighting may be turned off either as an emergency measure or to conserve electricity. As a result, drivers may not be able to see pedestrians clearly. It is important to choose your clothing carefully in low-light conditions.

• Choose light-colored clothing so you are more visible on the road. People dressed in dark clothing are almost invisible without street lighting. You do not need to wear all white — but at least half of your outfit, such as a jacket or trousers, should be light-colored.
• Use reflective elements on your clothing — these can include bracelets, armbands, stickers, pendants, or reflective vests. Reflective bands or stickers are inexpensive, while vests provide maximum visibility. Reflective elements significantly increase the chances that a driver will notice you and can reduce the risk of being hit by a car by up to six times.

Please note that since 2021, clause 4.4 of the Traffic Rules requires pedestrians walking on the roadway or shoulder in the dark or in low-visibility conditions to use reflective elements.

• Take care of your pets as well. Use glowing collars or accessories with reflective elements to make them visible.

How to wear reflective elements

• Place them at the driver’s eye level.
• Elements larger than 15 square centimeters are most effective.
• Yellow is the most visible color for reflectors.
• Attach reflective accessories, patches, or keychains to bags and backpacks on the side facing traffic, or on both sides.
• Pay special attention to children — they should have multiple reflective elements on their clothing, placed at the level of the head, torso, and arms, as children are less visible due to their height.

For more details on how to choose reflective elements, read here.

If a collapse of a destroyed building happens and you are under it, then know that, most likely, rescuers are already on their way to the place. It happens that they can’t get to the place quickly in case that this is being prevented by hostilities.

In autumn 2023, Ukrainian soldiers and residents of frontline areas faced the problem of a rapidly growing mouse population. The pests penetrate the trenches and dugouts of the military in whole flocks, destroying military equipment, electrical wiring, and spoiling food. Civilian homes are also affected. Mice not only cause domestic discomfort but can also trigger outbreaks of infectious diseases in humans, primarily tularemia and leptospirosis.

Among the reasons for the growth of the mice population in the frontline area are: 

1) the presence of abandoned houses, military positions, and uncleared fields where food supplies remain; 

2) reduction in the number of predators that hunt mice (as a result of mining and active hostilities).

In addition to this, there is seasonal migration: in autumn, mice look for shelter for the winter. And although the number of rodents decreases with the arrival of frost, due to the reasons listed above, “mouse invasions” will periodically recur.

How to prevent pests from invading your combat position/place of deployment/home

Fighting rodents in case of their penetration into a combat position/home

Use of poison

• Biological rodenticides. These products are based on a strain of the bacterium Salmonella enteritidis, which selectively affects rodents, causing a deadly typhoid disease. The effect of the drug is most apparent on the 5th-7th day after use. Sick mice infect healthy mice, which can lead to the death of the entire colony.

Varieties on the market

In the form of a gel-like liquid. The product is applied to the bait (grain). 1 litre is enough to produce 10 kg of bait. 2 to 3 g should be placed in the burrow. The price of 1 litre on the market is 350-400 UAH;

In the form of ready-made bait – infected grain. The cost of 1 kg is about 100 UAH.

• Preparations containing brodifacoum venom. The poison causes suffocation and internal bleeding in rodents, which leads to death. Because of suffocation, mice go out into the open, so their corpses don’t remain in holes, hiding places, or rooms. Disadvantage: such preparations can be dangerous for other animals, including birds. You should use a bait that birds will not eat. Some manufacturers add a bitter ingredient to the product to repel birds.

Varieties on the market

In the form of a gel-like liquid. 20 ml of concentrate is enough to make 1 kg of bait. It is placed along walls, partitions, near burrows – 10 – 25 g at a distance of 2 – 15 m from each other (depending on the number of pests). The market price is 650 – 700 UAH per 1 litre.

In the form of granules. 1 kg of the product is enough to destroy a colony of 65 animals. Expenditure – 25 g per room of 20 sq. m. The market price is 20-40 UAH per 250 g;

In the form of wax briquettes/filter bags. 2 – 3 briquettes (20 – 30 g) are placed on a polyethylene or cardboard substrate – this is one bait. The distance between baits is 3 – 15 m (depending on the number of rodents). Repeated use in 5-7 days. The market price is 15-30 UAH per 100 g.

Use of traps

• Mousetraps, snares. They are effective if the colony is not too large. Bread soaked in oil or lard is best to use as bait. Traps should be placed near the rodents’ hiding place. Change the bait regularly, free the traps from dead animals, and dispose of their corpses. The price of an ordinary wooden mousetrap on the market starts from 15 UAH, and a metal one from 50 UAH. There are also reusable humane traps and electronic mousetraps.
• Velcro books. It is best to place them along the walls where mice usually run: they fall on the sticky surface and can’t move. Manufacturers recommend disposing of used traps. The price of one trap on the market starts at 10 UAH.
• Self-made traps. Dig a 20-25 cm deep and wide trapping groove, about 5 metres long, and bury the trapping cylinders at the ends of it at a level with the bottom. 1.5 – 2-litre plastic bottles are well suited as cylinders (cut off the bottom and bury with the neck down). Another homemade trap has gained popularity on social media: bait is attached to a rotating bottle, and the bottle is placed over a bucket of water.

Other methods

• Ultrasonic repellers. Such devices generate ultrasound, which causes stress in rodents and makes them run away. Sound waves don’t affect people, but they can affect some pets. Such devices can also interfere with the operation of equipment and household appliances. The price on the market is from 600 UAH.
• Get a cat. A pet is effective at catching rodents, and mice are also scared away by the very smell of a predator. At the same time, you should not forget to vaccinate your pet against rabies, because in the field conditions it can be infected by a wild animal.

Sources:

Main Directorate of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Kherson Region
Ukrainian Theriological Society of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

War-related disability status provides access to state guarantees, including pensions, medical care, and social benefits.

How military personnel can obtain disability status: a brief guide

Who is eligible
Military personnel who sustained injuries, trauma, concussions, or illnesses in the course of service and have lasting health impairments.

Procedure

1. Medical care and injury documentation
   After injury, the service member is evacuated and receives treatment. Primary documents are then issued — including Form 100 (“Injury Card”) — confirming the circumstances of the injury.
2. Military Medical Commission (MMC)
   After stabilization, the individual is referred to the MMC, which assesses their health status and determines whether there are grounds for establishing disability.
3. Functional assessment
   An expert medical team evaluates the impact on the individual’s daily life and ability to work. The assessment may be conducted in person, remotely, or by correspondence within 30 days of the case being registered.
4. Decision and status assignment
   Based on the assessment, the expert team decides whether to establish disability. If confirmed, medical recommendations and an individual rehabilitation plan are provided, and the data is automatically transferred to social protection authorities.

What the status provides

• Eligibility for social payments and benefits
• Access to one-time financial assistance
• Access to medical and social rehabilitation
• State support guarantees

Important
A complete set of documents confirming the link between the injury and military service is essential.

How civilians can obtain war-related disability status

Civilians who sustained injuries or other health damage due to explosive devices or weapons may also qualify. Since November 2024, the status has been available across all government-controlled territory of Ukraine. Since December 2025, it has also been available to those injured in occupied territories.

Civilians undergo the same functional assessment process to determine disability and its cause.

Who is eligible

Civilians who:

• sustained injuries or health damage due to explosive hazards;
• have medical documentation confirming this;
• can provide an extract from the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations (URPI) or a decision from the Interdepartmental Commission under the Ministry for Veterans Affairs.

What the status provides

If a URPI extract is submitted, the cause of disability is recorded as related to explosive hazards, granting access to compensation under the Law of Ukraine “On Mine Action in Ukraine.”

If a decision from the Interdepartmental Commission is provided, the disability may be classified as war-related, granting official war-related disability status and access to benefits under the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of War Veterans and Guarantees of Their Social Protection.”

Procedure for civilians injured by explosive hazards

1. An expert team conducts a functional assessment and establishes disability based on submitted medical documents.
2. If a URPI extract is submitted, the cause of disability is recorded as injury due to explosive hazards.
3. The individual may then apply to the Interdepartmental Commission under the Ministry for Veterans Affairs to obtain war-related disability status.
4. After receiving the Commission’s decision, the person reapplies to the expert team to revise the cause of disability.
5. The cause may then be updated to reflect injury sustained during defense measures against Russian aggression.

What the status provides

• Free medicines and medical supplies prescribed by a doctor
• Priority free dental care (excluding precious metals) and prosthetics
• Free priority sanatorium treatment with travel cost compensation
• 100% discount on utility payments
• Free public transport, including suburban rail and bus services
• Priority access to outpatient care and hospitalization
• Additional paid leave of 14 calendar days per year

The status also entitles the holder to a disability pension. As of 2026, the minimum amounts are:

Group I — UAH 16,847
Group II — UAH 13,822
Group III — UAH 9,478

How to apply for a disability pension

Apply to the Pension Fund:

• Offline via a service center
• Online via the electronic services portal

Required documents:

• Application form
• Passport or birth certificate (for children)
• Taxpayer identification number
• Employment record or other proof of work history and income
• War-related disability certificate
• Photo for the pension ID

Important to know

The cause of disability is determined solely on the basis of submitted documents — specifically, a URPI extract or a decision of the Interdepartmental Commission. This is regulated by Ukrainian law, including Article 69-1 of the Fundamentals of Health Care Legislation and relevant Cabinet of Ministers resolutions.

Sources

Ministry of Health of Ukraine — Pathway for military personnel to obtain disability status
Ministry of Health of Ukraine — Functional assessment process for people injured by explosive devices

For more details, read here. 

If you do not plan to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the territorial defense, but still want to help, support volunteer organizations that assist the army.

Ukraine has built a system of planned donations to ensure a steady supply of blood and its components. Such stability is especially important in times of war. So, if you want to become a donor, approach this matter systematically, not emotionally.

The full list of contraindications can be found here:

Procedure for medical examination of blood donors and blood components

If so, choose a blood center or a specific recipient and schedule your donation for a day and time that is convenient for you. You must have your identity documents with you:

• Ukrainian citizens – passport and identification code;  
• foreigners – a permanent residence permit.

You can donate whole blood or its individual components: platelets or plasma. In any case, blood donation involves two stages: a medical examination and the donation itself.

Since blood composition is influenced by factors such as nutrition, sleep, and water balance, it is worth preparing for the donation. 

During the medical examination, you will be

• asked to fill out a donor questionnaire to check for any temporary or absolute contraindications, answer them frankly;
• examine the skin, visible mucous membranes, sclerae, accessible lymph nodes and abdominal organs;
• listen to the lungs, heart, measure blood pressure;
• determine the blood type and hemoglobin level, and may also check the level of ALT and bilirubin (indicators of liver function) and the presence of HIV/AIDS infection and Kell using the express method.

If everything is fine, you proceed to the final stage — blood sampling. It takes no more than 10 minutes and is absolutely safe. Only 2 items come into contact with the blood:

• a scarifier, which is a tool for piercing the finger;
• a hemacon needle, a special container that takes blood during the procedure.

They are disposable and sterile. By the way, the maximum capacity of hemacon is only 450 ml. An average adult male circulates about 5-6 liters of blood, and an average adult female circulates 4-5 liters.

After the procedure:

• rest for 15 minutes immediately after donating blood;
• In case you feel unwell, inform the staff;
• eat a light meal and drink sweet tea;
• don’t drive or ride a bicycle, scooter or motorcycle for 2 hours;
• don’t lift anything heavy with the hand from which the blood was taken for 2-3 hours;
• don’t drink alcoholic beverages for at least 8 hours;
• avoid intense physical activity for 12 hours after donation;
• eat frequently and regularly for two days after the procedure, limit the consumption of tea, coffee, dairy products, fiber foods, eggs and chocolate;
• add to your diet foods that are high in iron (meat, liver, fish, seafood, spinach, peas, broccoli, beans, etc.) and vitamin C (fresh greens and berries, citrus fruits, cabbage, tomatoes);
• drink plenty of liquid for two days.

If you plan to donate blood regularly, register for the reserve on the DonorUA platform or in the helsi.ua system. You no longer need to organize a donation on your own: just follow the notifications, and when the need for your blood arises, come to the already assigned center at the specified date and time.

Myths about blood donation or why being a “spontaneous” donor is not good 

Massive waves of calls to donate blood for wounded soldiers or civilians are periodically raised on social media throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Most often, this happens after media reports of massive rocket attacks or a difficult situation at the front.

One of the attributes of such a message is a comment like: “Spread this information, repost it, everyone should know about it!!!”. Such messages turn on the emotions of social media users and turn off their critical thinking. This creates panic and excessive excitement in regional blood centers, which leads to queues, overworked medical staff, and rejections of potential donors.

However, such reports often turn out to be fake. The blood donation system works better and more efficiently when donors come to blood centers on a regular basis, not just in the event of a major emergency or in response to individual media or social media reports. Because:

• Blood centers become overloaded
• People get a negative experience and never agree to become blood donors again
• “Spontaneous” donors often conceal risky behaviors (recent tattoos, unprotected sex, certain diseases, etc.). Although tests for key blood-borne infections are performed, there is a so-called “window” when the infection has entered your body and it is almost impossible to detect it in the laboratory.

In addition, all blood centers form a reserve for cases of massive blood demand. If this is not enough and something unpredictably large-scale has happened, it is worth checking whether there is a call for blood donation on the websites and pages of official sources: blood centers, the Ministry of Health, the Ukrainian Center for Transplant Coordination, DonorUA. 

Important: The spread of fake messages about the need for donations doesn’t refute the need for donors in general, but only the rush demand at a particular moment. There is always a need for blood, especially in times of war. However, blood is a limited resource and can’t be stored for long. Donor blood should be collected on a regular basis in a normalized manner, then the initiative of citizens will have the maximum benefit. 

*Based on a study by VoxCheck in cooperation with the USAID Health Care Reform Support Project.