Volunteer: 90% of combat medics are provided by charities

Oksana Korchynska, a volunteer and medical coordinator of the frontline medical center, told this on the Espreso TV channel.

"These key areas have been failed. In particular, the provision of tactical medicine, quality first aid kits, and tourniquets to all military personnel. There has been an absolute failure in training our military to save their lives. In this regard, we have problems with the number of amputations," she said.

According to her, there was no policy on the supply of tourniquets.

"There were massive losses of military, we cannot count them. As explained to us by international partners, including those who provided this humanitarian aid, the command of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not set any technical conditions. If they had said that we needed to buy certified tourniquets, our partners would have bought them," Korchynska said.

The command of the Medical Forces used the cheapest, Chinese tourniquets, so the troops were not provided the necessary supplies. 

"Recently, a shipment from the Medical Forces command of 30,000 first aid kits with Chinese tourniquets and products came in again. Now we are trying and asking our charitable foundations to replace these Chinese tourniquets for the combat medics at least, so that they can save lives," the volunteer added.

• Ukraine’s army has critically low provision of medical supplies, low-quality tourniquets – Union of Paramedics.