PDMSh Team

PDMS has long established itself as a powerful symbol of the russian-Ukrainian war. A united force of hundreds of volunteers from across the globe, we are a close-knit family that does more than save lives on the front lines — we forge unbreakable bonds as true brothers and sisters in arms.

Enroll as a Volunteer
Faces of PDMSh

History is made by people. Behind all the PDMSh activities are our volunteers—daring, brave, intelligent professionals in their field. More than a thousand volunteers have gone through PDMSh since 2014. Let us introduce them to you since they are the people who make up PDMSh.

Suren Avakian Armani
driver/paramedic
Iryna Babych Poltava
registered nurse
Maryana Bondarchuk Bulka
Anesthesiologist
Yaroslav Borysenko Babulya
Emergency medicine doctor
Serhiy Borodavko Bormental
Orthopedic traumatologist
Oleksandr Hahaiiev Poison
evacuation team leader
Mykola Hoiko Hora (“Mountain”)
PDMSh transportation director
Lyudmyla Hromadyuk Khanna
Nurse Anaesthetist
Oksana Danylo Soyka
Nurse
Gennadiy Druzenko First
PDMSh President
Svitlana Druzenko Lana
head of the PDMSh medical department
Oleh Dyachenko Yog
Rehabilitologist
Yulia Kasyan Chip
Surgeon
Viktoriia Kramarenko Lymph
nurse
Vladyslav Melnyk Alis
surgeon/traumatologist
Daniil Safronov Buddha
surgeon, physiotherapist
Vadym Khrusch Watson
ambulance paramedic
Vasyl Filip Patrick
anesthesiologist
Suren Avakian Armani
driver/paramedic
Read Armani: Not Giorgio, but Suren!
Iryna Babych Poltava
registered nurse
Read A PDMSh Veteran Receives a High State Award
Maryana Bondarchuk Bulka
Anesthesiologist

Maryana joined PDMSh in 2022 and worked as part of a PDMSh resuscitation team, as well as at the stabilisation posts. 

Awarded with a “For Assistance to the Army” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces of the Commander-in-Chief Awarded with a “For a Saved Life” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces of the Commander-in-Chief Awarded with a "Badge of Honor” by Ukraine's Defence Ministry 

“Egoists.” We Laugh So That We Don't Cry...”  

Read Anesthesiologist “Bulka”: “I don’t want the war to be imprinted on my son’s mind”
Yaroslav Borysenko Babulya
Emergency medicine doctor

First joined PDMSh back in 2017. After russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Yaroslav worked as part of a resuscitation team near Bakhmut, where he had to treat a substantial number of seriously injured patients. 

Awarded with a "For Assistance to the Army" honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief 

Perfectionist “Babulya”: Everyone Has the Opportunity to Contribute to Our Victory  

Read Perfectionist “Babulya”: Everyone has the opportunity to contribute to our victory
Serhiy Borodavko Bormental
Orthopedic traumatologist

Orthopedic traumatologist 

Serhiy has worked at PDMSh stabilisation posts since 2022, treating military and civilian patients at the front. - Awarded with a “For Assistance to the Army” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces of the Commander-in-Chief Awarded with a “For a Saved Life” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces of the Commander-in-Chief 

Serhiy (Bormenthal): “In Lyman, Our Hospital Distributed Humanitarian Aid. Locals Used to Come Here. One of Them Directed a Rocket at Us”

Read “Volunteers are the foundation of our future victory,” says Serhiy “Bormental” Borodavko
Oleksandr Hahaiiev Poison
evacuation team leader
Lyudmyla Hromadyuk Khanna
Nurse Anaesthetist

Nurse Anaesthetist “Khanna” learned about the PDMSh activities in 2016, when she first encountered us during tactical training. In 2023, she joined PDMSh missions, working at a stabilisation post and as part of a resuscitation team. 

Awarded with a “For Assistance to the Army” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief 

"Being Part of PDMSh is Enough to be Respected"

Oksana Danylo Soyka
Nurse

She joined PDMSh in 2022, working as part of resuscitation teams, as well as a stabilisation post - Awarded with a “For Assistance to the Army” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces of the Commander-in-Chief Awarded with a “For a Saved Life” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces of the Commander-in-Chief 

Soyka: "My Goal Is to Save Lives"

Read “Soyka”: “Everything was calm at home, and here I get into hell”
Gennadiy Druzenko First
PDMSh President

Education

  • International Scientific and Technical University, Kyiv: Bachelor of Law (with honors), 1999.
  • Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv: Master of Law (with honors), 2000.
  • University of Aberdeen (United Kingdom): Master of European Law (with honors), 2008.

Research and Publications

  • Fulbright Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Washington, D.C.), 2009–2010.
  • Visiting Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (Heidelberg, Germany), 2010.
  • Author of approximately one hundred general and academic publications in Ukrainian, English, Russian, and Spanish.

Work Experience

  • Secretary-Referent to His Holiness Patriarch Volodymyr (Romanyuk) of Kyiv and All Rus-Ukraine, 1993–1995.
  • Lecturer at the International Scientific and Technical University, Kyiv, 2000–2001.
  • Deputy Director of the Center for European and Comparative Law at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, 2001–2004. Co-author of the National Program for the Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to EU Legislation (2004).
  • Vice-President of the Institute of European Integration in Rzeszów, Poland, 2004–2010 (with breaks for studies).
  • Head of the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Committee on European Integration, 2010–2011 (for several months).
  • Coordinator for Regional Development in the USAID project "Local Investments and National Competitiveness" (LINK), 2011–2012.
  • Partner and Head of the European Law Practice at the law firm "Constructive Lawyers," 2013–2014.
  • Government Commissioner for Ethno-National Policy, 2014–2015.

Public and Political Activities

  • Co-author and chief editor of the Ukrainian translation of the EU founding treaties.
  • Co-author of the "European Choice of Ukraine" course for schoolchildren, implemented in Kyiv schools.
  • Member of the Expert Council of the Religious Information Service of Ukraine.
  • Executive Director of the Association of Local Self-Government Bodies "The Gediminids' Way" and its namesake international project.
  • Active participant in the Orange Revolution (2004) and the Revolution of Dignity (2013–2014).
  • Co-founder of the Direct Action Movement "Dignity," 2013.
  • Spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, 2014.
  • Co-founder, President, and Head of the Supervisory Board of the Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital since 2014.

Family

  • Wife: Svitlana.
  • Children: Maksym (born 1993) and Taisiya (born 1999).

More about the life, activities, and views of the PDMSh Leader (in Ukrainian)

Co-founder of PDMSh Gennadiy Druzenko: "Patriotism is not just a vyshyvanka or sharovary; it’s a value for which you are willing to suffer." (A five-year-long interview)

Read Gennadiy Druzenko: “Independence is the right to choose one’s own future”
Svitlana Druzenko Lana
head of the PDMSh medical department
Read Svitlana Druzenko: “No time to grow new specialists — we need to protect them”
Oleh Dyachenko Yog
Rehabilitologist

Oleh joined PDMSh in 2022 to help soldiers recover after PCS and injuries and literally repaired their backs broken by wearing body armour and other heavy ammunition. 

Awarded with a “For Assistance to the Army” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Awarded with a “For a Saved Life” honorary badge by Ukraine's Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief 

Fixing a Warrior up at One Haul: a PDMSh Rehabilitologist on the Broken Backs, Spinal Injuries, and the Recovery of Defenders During the War

Yulia Kasyan Chip
Surgeon

Yulia joined PDMSh in 2023 and worked at a stabilisation post 

A Fighter Must Know the Truth: a PDMSh Surgeon about Inevitable Amputations and the Day-to-Day inside the Operating Room

Viktoriia Kramarenko Lymph
nurse
Read A Washington Post story features Viktoria Kramarenko
Vladyslav Melnyk Alis
surgeon/traumatologist
Read Self-respect leads to PDMSh. And so do ads and an inner voice
Daniil Safronov Buddha
surgeon, physiotherapist
Read “Buddha” in Bakhmut — Danylo Safronov
Vadym Khrusch Watson
ambulance paramedic
Read Self-respect leads to PDMSh. And so do ads and an inner voice
Awards

We are grateful for the recognition of our contribution. A total of 351 PDMSh volunteers to date have received awards for their selfless work — as PDMSh volunteers — in countless cases receiving commemorative badges from individual military units and public organisations, diplomas and certificates from hospitals and administrations... we couldn't even start counting those. Yet, we are proud of each and every one. 

See the Awards
3
Order "For Merit" III Degree
15
Order "For Courage" III Degree
7
Order of Grand Princess Olga
1
Medal "For Military Service to Ukraine"
30
Medal for Lifesaving
6
Merited Public Health Worker of Ukraine
52
Distinction "For Humanitarian Participation in the ATO"
6
Presidential Award "For the Defense of Ukraine"
1
Award of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine — Breastplate "Cross of Special Merits"
13
Award of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine — Medal "Cross of Honor"
2
Award of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine — Medal "Defender of Ukraine"
30
Honorary Badge "Sign of Honor"
171
Medal "For Assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine"
1
Honorary Chestplate "Steel Cross"
41
Honorary Badge of Distinction "For Saving a Life"
159
Honorary Chestplate "For Assistance to the Army"
14
Honorary Badge "For Merit to the Armed Forces of Ukraine"
2
Certificate of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with a Breastplate to the Certificate
5
NSDCU (RNBOU) Awards
12
Award of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Third Class
12
"For significant personal achievements in the development and improvement of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine
12
Award of the Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Management
PDMSh Presidnte
Gennadiy Druzenko

• Strategic partnership

• Government relations

• International relations

• Other strategic issues

PDMSh Supervisory Board Chair
Oleh Shyba

 

PDMSh Vice President
Halyna Almazova

 

PDMSh Executive Director
Tetiana Samoylenko

• Management of PDMSh activities 

• Legal issues and documentation

PDMSh Director for Donor Relations
Mykyta Kulichenko

• Financial and material support of PDMSh 

• Partnering with PDMSh

PDMSh Medical Director
Svitlana Druzenko
  • Requests for reinforcing a stabilization post / medical company
  • Assistance in supplying medicines, tactical expendables, and medical equipment
  • Inquiries of medical workers willing to join PDMSh
PDMSh Communications Director
Daria Ripna

• PR 

• Media relations

PDMSh Transportation Director
Mykola Hoyko

 

PDMSh Assistant President
Ihor Buyvol

 

Become a PDMSh Volunteer
100 000

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 Can I Join PDMSh?

Please fill out the volunteer form on our website: https://www.pdmsh.ua/apply. 

The PDMSh HR manager will contact you to instruct you on further steps if and when your application meets PDMSh’s current needs. 

You can also follow us on social media, where we announce our needs for the next mission.    

Do PDMSh Volunteers Receive a Salary?

The PDMSh volunteers work exclusively pro bono, without any salary or other remuneration. However, PDMSh volunteers are fully provided with food, accommodation, outfits, IFAKs, and everything necessary for work during the mission.  

How Many People Have Joined PDMSh?

 Since its establishment, over 1,000 volunteers have joined PDMSh, including 700 medical workers.

How is PDMSh Structured?

The PDMSh medical team on the front line is currently led by Svitlana Druzenko. The executive director (head) of the charity fund "Mykola Pirogov FVMH Charity" is Tetiana Samoylenko. The day-to-day management of PDMSh is carried out by the Board of Directors, which is comprised of Daria Ripna—Director of Communications; Mykyta Kulichenko—Director of Donor Relations; and Mykola Goyko—Director of Transportation. PDMSh is supervised by Gennady Druzenko—President, assisted by Halyna Almazova—VP, and Ihor Buyvol—Assistant to the President.

Who can I talk to?

 Call us on the PDMSh hotline: 0800334903