For the eleventh year, the Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PDMSh) volunteers have been rescuing and treating the wounded on the front lines. Hundreds of PDMSh volunteer medics have cared for and saved thousands of lives—both military personnel and civilians.
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.
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. Over ten years at the front, PDMSh has transformed from a cohort of daredevils into a group of the legendary russia-Ukraine War fighters.
A Facebook post by Gennadiy Druzenko that started it all.
A couple of dozens of medics to help Maidan.
PDMSh’s first mission sets off for the front.
PDMSh’s work during the Debaltseve Operation.
The signing of a Memorandum between PDMSh, the Health Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
PDMSh deployment in Kyiv during the full-scale invasion.
Setting up PDMSh bases in Eastern Ukraine.
Over 2,000 patients per month — nearly 20,000 in seven months.
From imminent PDMSh shutdown to its resumed activities.
100,000 thousand patients in 10 years of operation of the PDMSh.
The PDMSh has provided assistance to 50,000 patients since the start of the full-scale invasion.
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.
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.
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.
PDMSh’s first mission sets off for the front.
PDMSh actively participated in rescuing the wounded in the Battle of Debaltseve.
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.
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.
PDMSh deployment in Kyiv during the full-scale invasion.
PDMSh relocated to Donbas and set up bases in Bakhmut and Slovyansk. Active work of PDMSh volunteer doctors, rescuing the wounded, providing medical assistance to military and civilians.
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.
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.
From imminent PDMSh shutdown to its resumed activities.
On December 15 PDMSh celebrated the 10th anniversary of the first group of its volunteers going to the ATO zone, as the Russian-Ukrainian war was then called.
In November 2024, we provided medical care to our 100,000th patient. Among these 100,000 patients, almost 44.5 thousand were those who were saved by the PDMSh doctors, paramedics, and drivers after the full-scale invasion of the Muscovite barbarians on February 24, 2022. And there is no end in sight to this war.
100,000 thousand patients in 10 years of operation of the PDMSh.
This is not just a number — behind it stand tens of thousands of saved lives, touched by the caring and tireless hands of volunteer medics. We are not a state organization. We have no stable funding or guarantees. What we do have is an unshakable belief that our work matters, and a dedicated team of people who prove it every single day through their actions.
We work without pause, doing everything possible to ensure that as many of our defenders as possible return home alive. And this work is only possible thanks to those who support us. We will remain at our post for as long as our strength, resources, and hearts willing to fight for life endure.
The PDMSh has provided assistance to 50,000 patients since the start of the full-scale invasion.
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
The PDMSh was founded in 2014 with the aim of providing medical assistance in the areas of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and, since May 2018, the Joint Forces Operation. Before the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, our volunteer medics had provided timely and qualified medical care to over 56,000 patients. In total, as of July 2025, we have provided assistance to more than 107,000 military personnel and civilian victims of Russian aggression, including 51,000 during the two years of the full-scale war. We continue to work actively on the front line — carrying out evacuations, providing medical aid at stabilization points, and treating patients.
We are constructing the PDMSh Educational, Training, and Rehabilitation Center (ETRC). The facility will include an educational and medical training hub for volunteer doctors preparing to work in combat zones, as well as a rehabilitation center for the wounded. The ETRC will strengthen PDMSh’s operations and contribute to the stabilization and successful reintegration of those affected into peaceful life.
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.
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.
Our volunteer “Polyak” has been fighting for his life for the second month already. There is positive progress, but he remains in intensive care. Over 800,000 UAH has already been directed to his treatment, yet a long road and significant expenses lie ahead. “Polyak” has earned for us to do everything possible to help him survive.
We are launching a new fundraiser for medicines for Oleksandr Borysovych. He always fought to the last for every wounded soldier, for every patient. Today it is our turn to fight for him.
Countless evacuations and broken roads wear down our medical “workhorses.” Support the fundraiser to repair PDMSh evacuation vehicles — to save lives, they must stay on the move!
Thanks to your support, 4 PDMSh medevac vehicles are now equipped with EW systems. But one more still lacks protection. EW isn’t cheap — but lives are priceless. Join the fundraiser!
PDMSh volunteers work 24/7. To help preserve their health, we need to provide nutritious meals — as good as possible in frontline conditions. Support the fundraiser!
Patients have received medical treatment from PDMSh volunteer medics since 2014.
Volunteer PDMSh medics have provided medical care in many combat areas.
Locations in which PDMSh volunteer medics have worked since 2014.
Years we have been at war.
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.
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.
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.
PDMS exists solely on donations from individuals and private companies. For more than 10 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.