About PDMSh

For a decade, The Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PDMSh) volunteers have been rescuing and treating wounded on the front lines. Hundreds of PDMSh volunteer medics have cared for and saved thousands of military and civilian lives.

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About us

PDMSh is the biggest non-governmental project in Ukraine, bringing civilian medics to provide medical care in combat zones. We started saving the wounded and sick in the frontline towns and villages of Donbas in the first year of the war, 2014. Since then, we've been working tirelessly wherever the fighting rages on, offering critical care to those caught in the crossfire.

Our Vision
Ongoing Activities
History of PDMSh
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We are convinced that our unique blend of volunteer enthusiasm and flexibility with the systematic and strategic governmental approach makes the PDMSh a one-of-a-kind project that lays the foundation for the future of accessible and high-quality mobile medicine in Ukraine. We believe that PDMSh is a sprout of a new Ukraine, which is to be the pride of those who paid the price of their lives to engender its independent, better future.

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From the first days of the full-scale russian invasion, PDMSh deployed in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine, mobilising its medics and resources more broadly to fight the russian occupiers and treat wounded Ukrainian defenders, as well as civilians. PDMSh’s stabilisation posts and medical teams currently operate in Donetsk Oblast’s. Over ten years at the front, PDMSh has transformed from a cohort of daredevils into a group of the legendary russia-Ukraine War fighters.

Dec. 1, 2013
The Conception of PDMSh

A Facebook post by Gennadiy Druzenko that started it all.

August 2014
Ilovaisk Tragedy

A couple of dozens of medics to help Maidan.

Dec. 5, 2014
PDMSh Anniversary

PDMSh’s first mission sets off for the front.

Feb. 12-18, 2015
PDMSh Baptised by Fire

PDMSh’s work during the Debaltseve Operation.

Feb. 5, 2016
Memorandum Signed

The signing of a Memorandum between PDMSh, the Health Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

Feb. 28, 2022
The Full-Scale War Begins

 PDMSh deployment in Kyiv during the full-scale invasion.

April 26-30, 2022
PDMSh Relocation to Donbas

Setting up PDMSh bases in Eastern Ukraine.

January to July 2023
Full-Scale War's Most Intense Phase

Over 2,000 patients per month — nearly 20,000 in seven months.

Dec. 31, 2023
The 30000th Patient

From imminent PDMSh shutdown to its resumed activities.

Several dozens of medics who responded to the Facebook call of Gennadiy Druzenko, the future co-founder of PDMSh, provided care to the first victims of clashes between the police and protesters on Bankova Street near the Administration of the President of Ukraine.

Dec. 1, 2013
The Conception of PDMSh

A Facebook post by Gennadiy Druzenko that started it all.

Gennadiy Druzenko and Yevhen Nayshtetyk, who met on the Maidan on Dec. 1, 2013, decided to organise a volunteer field hospital as a response to the unacceptable losses of Ukrainian troops during the Ilovaisk operation resulting from the lack of proper and timely medical care for wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

August 2014
Ilovaisk Tragedy

A couple of dozens of medics to help Maidan.

The first mission of PDMSh leaves Kyiv for war-torn Donbas. On Dec. 16, PDMSh’s advance group meets in Zelenopillia with the Sector C command. On the same day in the Kurakhiv Hospital, a PDMSh volunteer doctor participates in the rescue of a wounded soldier — PDMSh’s first patient. Since then, Dec. 15, 2014, has been referred to as the birthday of the Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital.

Dec. 5, 2014
PDMSh Anniversary

PDMSh’s first mission sets off for the front.

PDMSh actively participated in rescuing the wounded in the Battle of Debaltseve.

Feb. 12-18, 2015
PDMSh Baptised by Fire

PDMSh’s work during the Debaltseve Operation.

PDMSh signs the Memorandum of Cooperation within the Framework of the Project “Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital” with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Feb. 5, 2016
Memorandum Signed

The signing of a Memorandum between PDMSh, the Health Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

PDMSh deployed on the base of the International Renaissance Foundation in Kyiv. PDMSh’s first patient since the full-scale invasion is evacuated from the Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany) to the Kyiv Emergency Hospital.

Feb. 28, 2022
The Full-Scale War Begins

 PDMSh deployment in Kyiv during the full-scale invasion.

PDMSh relocated to Donbas and set up bases in Bakhmut and Slovyansk.

April 26-30, 2022
PDMSh Relocation to Donbas

Setting up PDMSh bases in Eastern Ukraine.

The hottest time in PDMSh’s history. More than 2,000 patients every month. About 19,200 patients in seven months of work at the front. Cases of severe injuries, amputations, PCS, evacuations, and work 24/7.

January to July 2023
Full-Scale War's Most Intense Phase

Over 2,000 patients per month — nearly 20,000 in seven months.

On Dec. 31, 2023, we treated the 30000th patient since the beginning of the full-scale war. The last year was probably crucial for PDMSh. In the summer, due to a lack of resources, we even assumed that PDMSh would cease to exist as a voluntary formation. We were ready for the official mobilisation and transformation of the legendary volunteer unit into a medical service within one of the military units. But the Lord had other plans for us. We reduced the number of people at the front as much as possible, reduced the number of locations and crews, and pushed the limits, but we did not give up. We were able to stand out, reformat, and, with renewed strength, continue to do what we can do best — saving lives.

Dec. 31, 2023
The 30000th Patient

From imminent PDMSh shutdown to its resumed activities.

Our Mission

PDMSh is a seed of the new Ukraine, a nation we hold in honour before those who gave their invaluable lives for it. We have the ambition to become a global leader that sets world standards for the efficiency of providing medical care in armed conflicts and natural/technogenic disasters

Saving Lives at the Frontlines

PDMSh was founded in 2014 to provide medical assistance in the areas of the Anti-Terrorist Operation, designated the Joint Forces Operation since May 2018. Before russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, our volunteer medics provided timely and qualified medical care to more than 56,000 patients. As of March 2024, we assisted a total of over 85,000 military and civilian victims of russian aggression, including 32,000 during the two years of the full-scale war. We continue our activities at the front, evacuating, providing medical care at stabilisation posts, and healing.  

A Rehabilitation Centre Being Built

We are building a PDMSh Training and Rehabilitation Centre. The facility will comprise a training centre for volunteer doctors going to the combat zone and a rehabilitation centre for the wounded. The TRC will strengthen the PDMSh activities and help stabilise and reintegrate the injured into a peaceful life.

Setting the Frontline Medical Care Standards

PDMSh will never match the medical capabilities of the Armed Forces and other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in terms of manpower and equipment, nor does it aim to. We are just one of the drops that make up the raging river of defenders of Ukraine, yet a unique one. In spite of the lack of governmental funding, we have the best mobile IC evacuation units, top-notch medical equipment, and highly motivated volunteers. PDMSh is setting a real-time precedent of committed, high-quality medical care on the frontlines — our key mission.

Engendering a New Ukraine

Everything PDMSh has is the result of our own efforts and the support of our donors, benefactors, and ordinary caring people. Without government funding, from scratch. If it has worked out with PDMSh, then it’s possible!

After all, we need a critical mass of “assembly points” such as #PDMSh to build a fundamentally better Ukraine worthy of those who gave their lives for it.

 Dedicated and daring teams ready to experiment, design, and implement the future.

PDMSh Locations
Our needs
URGENT NEEDS
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Raising funds for a PDMSh armored medevac
885 550 15%6 000 000
WEINMANN defibrillator
228 354 17%1 320 000
99 500

Patients have received medical treatment from PDMSh volunteer medics since 2014.

700

Volunteer PDMSh medics have provided medical care in many combat areas.

58

Locations in which PDMSh volunteer medics have worked since 2014.

9

Years we have been at war.

FAQ
How does PDMSh differ from other charities?

PDMSh is a volunteer civilian medic formation established in 2014. The namesake charity fund appeared later when it became clear that the russian-Ukrainian war would be a long one, and PDMSh had grown to the point where it needed to create its own official "wallet". So our fund, "Mykola Pyrogov FVMH Charity", is not an intermediary one that accumulates privately sourced financing, buys something with them and transfers it to military units or other beneficiaries. Instead, by donating to PDMS, you directly support volunteer medics — every donation you make allows us to save someone's life.

Who founded PDMSh?

PDMSh was founded in 2014 by Gennadiy Druzenko and Yevgeny Naishtetik, who met on the Maidan on December 1, 2014, when makeshift medical teams were formed at the call of the former. These teams were "baptised by fire" on that same day in clashes with the Berkut (a special reinforced police formation) on Bankova Street. Among the first PDMS volunteers was Oleg Shyba, who, in August 2015, became one of the founders of the charity fund "Mykola Pyrogov FVMH Charity". The composition of the fund's participants has changed several times and currently includes Ihor Buivol, Gennadiy Druzenko, Svitlana Druzenko, Tetiana Samoylenko and Oleh Shyba.

How can I join PDMSh?

To join PDMSh, submit your application: pdmsh.ua/apply. With the needs of the given moment considered, the PDMSh HR manager will contact you and provide further instructions.

What funds allow PDMSh to conduct its work?

PDMS exists solely on donations from individuals and private companies. For more than nine years of work on the front line, PDMS has never received budget funds from either the Ukrainian or foreign governments. In the course of our history, we have implemented several small grant projects with financing from the United Nations and the European Commission. One of the main sources of funding for PDMSh before the start of the big war was the "Icons on 'Ammo Boxes' project.