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.

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

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.

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 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.

Combat operations and rocket attacks can not only take the lives of the military, but also seriously injure them. Civilians can also become disabled as a result of Russian aggression.

In the case of disability due to injury, contusion, or mutilation, Ukrainians can receive the status of a person with a disability as a result of war. It is given to:

• military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (volunteer formations of territorial communities), the National Guard, security service, police and other law enforcement agencies and departments;
• employees of enterprises involved in the defense of the country;
• regular military volunteers as part of volunteer formations;
• irregular military volunteers in volunteer formations;
• volunteers who have received a disability in the areas of hostilities;
• people involved in confidential cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence in the occupied territories and combat zones

The disability group is determined by the Medical and Social Expert Commission (MSEC). It determines the cause and time of the disability, the percentage of disability, and whether there is a need for prosthetics. It also determines whether individual rehabilitation is required and whether there are medical indications for the right to receive special motor vehicles.

After the commission (MSEC) reviews your case and determines your disability group, you should receive a certificate in three copies. This certificate is the basis for the one-time financial assistance and other social benefits.

To obtain an “Identity card of a person with a disability as a result of war” you need to

• with a certificate from the Commission (MSEC), contact the social protection authority at the place of registration;
• write an application.

For civilians who became disabled as a result of hostilities, the legislation is in the process of being regulated. Currently, the Ministry of Health states that people who have been disabled by explosives, ammunition and military weapons have the right to choose one of the causes of disability:

1. “A person with a disability due to war” – this reason is determined on the basis of the conclusion of an interdepartmental commission working under the Ministry of Veterans
2. “Injured as a result of explosive objects” – this reason is established by a special commission (MSEC) on the basis of an extract from the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations on the opening of criminal proceedings regarding the fact of such an injury.

What does the status of “Persons with disabilities as a result of war” give?

Once a person has received the relevant status, he or she can use the benefits defined in Law No. 3551 “On the Status of War Veterans and Guarantees of Their Social Protection.” For example:

• the right to receive medicines for free;
• priority dental prosthetics;
• free annual sanatorium and resort treatment;
• discounts on housing and utility bills;
• free transportation by public transport;
• priority service in ambulatory healthcare facilities;
• the right to an annual medical examination;
• financial assistance – pension/monthly lifetime allowance/state social assistance.

The material was created together with the Human Rights Center for Military Personnel “Pryncyp”

3) Submit a crime report to law enforcement agencies. 

Provide all collected evidence of destruction of property and be sure to obtain an extract from the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations regarding this application.

4) Save the collected data

Upload a copy of all collected documents, testimonies, photos and video materials to the cloud storage to avoid their loss.

5) Report lost or damaged housing to the Government.

How to do it?

An explosive wave caused by an enemy missile strike or shell fragments can damage not only Ukrainian homes. Often, cars parked near a home are in the affected area.

Do insurance companies compensate for damage to cars? 

Ordinary civil liability insurance and even full motor hull insurance don’t cover war risks, as military action is considered a force majeure and is an exception in insurance contracts. However, a number of insurance companies are already offering their clients additional policies to help resolve this issue.

In order to protect a car from war risks, insurance companies recommend choosing CASCO insurance + an additional option or additionally purchasing a separate contract covering only war damage. Some companies even offer online registration of such insurance.

The policy is provided for cars up to 15 years old (some companies – up to 12 years old).

Important: the policies are valid only on the territory controlled by Ukraine, except for the combat zone. 

What are the payments?

Usually, the coverage of “war damage” is 10%. That is, if the cost of a car is UAH 600 thousand, the payment will be UAH 60 thousand.

In some programmes that insure only military risks, the rates range from 0.99% to 1.99% of the car’s value, depending on the term of their validity.

How to choose an insurance policy for such cases?

When comparing insurance policies from different companies, pay attention to

• Coverage: what risks does each insurance company’s policy cover? Make sure that the coverage meets your needs and takes into account the main risks.
• Limitations and deductibles*: consider whether there are any limitations or deductibles in the insurance policy. 

• Policy cost: compare not only the cost of policies from different companies, but also the list of services included in the price. A cheaper policy doesn’t always mean a better choice, as it may have limited coverage or high deductibles.

*Deductible is the amount you pay out of your own pocket before the insurance company begins to reimburse you for losses.

Is there a state compensation programme for a damaged or destroyed car? 

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is currently considering and finalising draft law No. 11147, which provides for a mechanism of compensation for cars damaged or destroyed as a result of Russian aggression. 

The draft law has not been adopted yet, but you can still take certain steps to increase your chances of receiving compensation for damaged or destroyed vehicles in the future when the law comes into force. First and foremost, you need to properly record the damage.

How to record the fact of car damage? 

• Take as many photos and videos of the scene and the car as possible. It is advisable to have a connection to the area and buildings. Make sure that the photo clearly shows the environment.
• Find at least two witnesses who will confirm the damage in writing. Get their contact details so that you can contact them if necessary.
• Check the news for news coverage of the incident and take screenshots or copy links to media reports
• Contact the police. It is important that the police draw up a report on the inspection of the scene and enter information about the criminal offence into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations.

If it’s not possible to contact the police in person, you should send them (by registered mail with a description of the contents and acknowledgement of receipt) a statement with attached evidence of the incident and copies of your identity document and vehicle registration certificate.

How to determine the amount of damage?

• Order an auto-expertise. The expert will make a conclusion about the amount of damage.
• Gather all possible receipts and checks, certificates of work performed, and other documents regarding the costs incurred by the vehicle owner due to damage

Finally, contact your insurance company (if the car is insured).

To prevent this from happening, what is the safest place to park your car during shelling?

The best place is an underground garage. But in the event of a direct shell hit, even such a structure may not save the property. 

As for the above-ground storage: 

• there is no chance that a metal garage will save the car;
• if the building is brick, the likelihood of saving the car increases.

Remember that the greatest value is human life. If you hear an air raid alert, take shelter!

The best help for a civilian in a combat zone is not to interfere with the military’s professional performance.

Another way to help effectively is to train and become part of the army or territorial defense forces.

If you do not plan to join The Armed Forces of Ukraine or territorial defense, consider supporting volunteer organizations that help 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.