THE CONTRIBUTION OF STUDENTS FROM UKRAINIAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITIES TO VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: HOW MEDICAL STUDENTS HELP IN HOSPITALS, VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, AND PROVIDE FIRST AID ON THE FRONTLINES AND IN THE REAR

The article explores the contribution of students from Ukrainian medical universities to volunteer activities during the war that has been ongoing since 2014 and escalated in 2022 with the full-scale Russian invasion. In these challenging conditions, medical students play a crucial role both on the frontlines and in the rear. Their activities include working in hospitals where they assist doctors, serve as nurses, and take on various organizational tasks. In the rear, students provide first aid to those affected, conduct training for civilians on basic first aid skills, organize humanitarian missions, and participate in volunteer initiatives to collect and distribute medical supplies. On the frontlines, they assist military doctors in field hospitals, evacuate the wounded from the battlefield, often working under constant life-threatening conditions. Additionally, students provide psychological support to soldiers dealing with the emotional and mental toll of the war. A significant aspect of their involvement is the cooperation with volunteer organizations such as the Red Cross, MedSanBat, and others, where they actively engage in training new volunteers, organizing medical missions, and gathering humanitarian aid. Despite the heavy workload and emotional and physical challenges, medical students continue to play an essential role in supporting Ukraine's healthcare system during the war. They gain invaluable experience that will shape their future professional development while making a substantial contribution to saving the lives and health of both military personnel and civilians.