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Hospital Staff In Ukrainian City Of Izyum Try To Heal After Russian Occupation

Updated

As winter approaches and as they mourn the loss of a slain colleague, hospital personnel in the formerly occupied Ukrainian city of Izyum are moving their operations to the basement in preparation for a harsh winter.

*CORRECTION: Two photographs by AP were removed from this gallery due to questions about their authenticity.

A patient walks past the former surgery department at the hospital in Izyum in eastern Ukraine, which was destroyed by a Russian attack. Medical staff are struggling with the memories of six deadly months under Russian occupation.
1 A patient walks past the former surgery department at the hospital in Izyum in eastern Ukraine, which was destroyed by a Russian attack.

Medical staff are struggling with the memories of six deadly months under Russian occupation.
Patients rest outside the hospital. Hospital staff spent four months performing surgeries in the basement during the war's early days and well into the Russian occupation of Izyum. As winter approaches, they are contemplating returning their surgeries to the basement, where some even lived.
2 Patients rest outside the hospital.

Hospital staff spent four months performing surgeries in the basement during the war's early days and well into the Russian occupation of Izyum. As winter approaches, they are contemplating returning their surgeries to the basement, where some even lived.
Patient Vadym Nazarov (left) speaks to volunteer Denis Zhmakin in front of the hospital. The hospital was the only medical facility to stay open when Russian troops overran Izyum in early March. The city returned to Ukrainian hands last month during a counteroffensive that dealt a blow to Moscow's war aims.
3 Patient Vadym Nazarov (left) speaks to volunteer Denis Zhmakin in front of the hospital.

The hospital was the only medical facility to stay open when Russian troops overran Izyum in early March. The city returned to Ukrainian hands last month during a counteroffensive that dealt a blow to Moscow's war aims.
The shattered surgery department. Signs around the hospital complex warning of mines are disappearing one by one as Ukrainian sappers painstakingly clear each patch of earth. The scars from what happened here -- to the buildings and to the people who provided and received care -- will take much longer to heal.
4 The shattered surgery department.

Signs around the hospital complex warning of mines are disappearing one by one as Ukrainian sappers painstakingly clear each patch of earth. The scars from what happened here -- to the buildings and to the people who provided and received care -- will take much longer to heal.
Doctor Yuriy Kuznetsov (left), a trauma surgeon, helps nurses move a patient onto a bed. The handful of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and pathologists who stayed during the Russian occupation were the only hope for residents of Izyum as the city rapidly filled with the sick and wounded.  
5 Doctor Yuriy Kuznetsov (left), a trauma surgeon, helps nurses move a patient onto a bed.

The handful of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and pathologists who stayed during the Russian occupation were the only hope for residents of Izyum as the city rapidly filled with the sick and wounded.

 
A laboratory that was used as the surgery department by Russian forces. Serhiy Botsman, a paramedic who is still dealing with the memories of helpless civilians and their horrific injuries, describes their current situation: “There is nobody who wants to come and relieve us,” he said. “I am tired. I am so tired. For seven months, no one has come to take our place. And how could I leave knowing that no one will come to help us?”
6 A laboratory that was used as the surgery department by Russian forces.

Serhiy Botsman, a paramedic who is still dealing with the memories of helpless civilians and their horrific injuries, describes their current situation: “There is nobody who wants to come and relieve us,” he said. “I am tired. I am so tired. For seven months, no one has come to take our place. And how could I leave knowing that no one will come to help us?”
A cat sits in front of the laboratory that was used by Russian forces.  
7 A cat sits in front of the laboratory that was used by Russian forces.



 
Kuznetsov also lives with terrible memories. He saw wounds from bombs, bullets, and shrapnel. He said some people arrived asking for help with injuries they refused to explain but which looked like torture. “It's like a sniper when he’s asked if he can see in his dreams all those people he has eliminated. You can go crazy that way,” he said. 
8 Kuznetsov also lives with terrible memories. He saw wounds from bombs, bullets, and shrapnel. He said some people arrived asking for help with injuries they refused to explain but which looked like torture.

“It's like a sniper when he’s asked if he can see in his dreams all those people he has eliminated. You can go crazy that way,” he said. 
Kuznetsov shows the hospital basement that was used as the surgery department during the heavy shelling and occupation by Russian troops. Kuznetsov lived in the basement until July. Two stretchers on wheels and a low bed served as operating tables. The room was so cold that "to inject the solutions, we had to warm them up against our body,” he recalled. The electrician who managed to keep the lights on with a diesel generator was as important as the surgeon in the difficult environment.
9 Kuznetsov shows the hospital basement that was used as the surgery department during the heavy shelling and occupation by Russian troops.

Kuznetsov lived in the basement until July. Two stretchers on wheels and a low bed served as operating tables. The room was so cold that "to inject the solutions, we had to warm them up against our body,” he recalled.

The electrician who managed to keep the lights on with a diesel generator was as important as the surgeon in the difficult environment.
“We were all terribly depressed from time to time. We cried, cursed. We didn’t want to do anything,” Kuznetsov said. “With every saved person, with every saved life, the confidence [of being right] to have stayed here.... We were convinced it was not all in vain."
10 “We were all terribly depressed from time to time. We cried, cursed. We didn’t want to do anything,” Kuznetsov said. “With every saved person, with every saved life, the confidence [of being right] to have stayed here.... We were convinced it was not all in vain."
Kuznetsov prepares his car for the trip back to his house, which was badly damaged by Russian bombs.  
11 Kuznetsov prepares his car for the trip back to his house, which was badly damaged by Russian bombs.
 
Bodies are transported in plastic bags from the morgue, which remains without power and where the stench is strong. Autopsies were impossible under Russian occupation and still are. The staff of three is said to be on the verge of quitting because of the difficult conditions.
12 Bodies are transported in plastic bags from the morgue, which remains without power and where the stench is strong. Autopsies were impossible under Russian occupation and still are. The staff of three is said to be on the verge of quitting because of the difficult conditions.

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