[ Elena Zaslavskaya ] These Russians
These Russian boys don’t change
war, revolution, Russian roulette
To die before getting old
In the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries
[ doctor ] We are working non-stop
Of course, no matter what their skills are, people still get tired
Blast injuries are the most common form of trauma
[ soldier ] They began to aim mortar fire at us quite accurately
I got hit in the leg, not too badly
[ doctor ] The local attitude to us is basically positive
We've seen no hostile moments in our dealings with them
Thank you all. Good bye
Human life is priceless anyway, so, we...
who work here and try to help, take every ...
patient personally
DR DONBASS: LIVING ON THE EDGE
[ soldier ] Lena, where is the light switch? [ woman 2 ] Left
On the left. Oh!
[ woman 2 ] Down below
[ soldier ] This is an operating room
with two tables
It's equipped with everything
an operating theatre needs for complex surgery
[ VO ] This medical unit has been set up in a maintenance building.
[ VO ] It's protected from shelling.
[ soldier ] Thank God, so far this morning, we've had no bad injuries
[ VO ] The team works 10 minutes’ drive from the front line.
[ VO ] It’s quiet now, but sometimes shells fly in.
[ doctor ] You're Sanya, right? Don't be afraid!
See? It doesn't hurt now
Right?
[ doctor ] It doesn't hurt? [ patient ] No
[ doctor ] Blood flow is good
No pus
[ doctor ] What's up? [ patient ] It stings
[ doctor ] Stinging's good
The germs aren't spreading, you see?
That's why it hurts
A little scratch...
There, hold on, it's a pain killer
Did you feel the jab?
Our Novocaine is Russian not Chinese
[ doctor ] In your case, it's a glancing soft tissue injury
with an expected recovery time no more...
than 10 days
So, we've decided against evacuation
On admission, paravulnar anaesthesia was given
The infection was contained. Dry one, please
The infection process was contained,
and, when it became possible,
secondary sutures were added
The wound's closed
If there's no sign of inflammation in...
two or three days and the wound heals well,
in 10 days you'll be discharged to the frontline to defend our land
[ man ] Yesterday, I dreamt only of meat, I wrote home...
'I want meat!'
[ man 2 ] Atherosclerosis, I wonder?
[ man 1 ] It was young...
It didn't smoke!
[ VO ] It’s good they’re joking. It means they aren’t tired.
[ VO ] And also that all at the front line are safe and sound.
It can also be used as an allograft
It should be tied on both sides and pumped full of saline
The work is...
non-stop. Of course, no matter what their skills,
people still get tired
Of course, we assist the civilian population who turn to us
[ VO ] Civilians get hurt.
[ VO ] The Ukrainian Armed Forces have shelled a village to make their presence felt.
[ doctor ] Civilians also seek medical advice quite often
[ doctor 2 ] So what happened?
[ doctor 3 ] A shell landed near the entrance, which was blown up
It didn't hit me but I was deafened
I got dust in my eyes
I'm deaf in one ear
[ doctor ] Where was it? [ doctor 2 ] Near… I heard the whistling
[ doctor 2 ] and rushed to the entrance
I was just near the steps when it happened
A neighbour had just gone in, he was torn apart
But for him, I'd have died too
Only my legs hurt
A nightmare!
Three neighbours, all killed at once
[ doctor ] The local attitude to us is basically positive
We've seen no hostile moments in our dealings with them
[ VO ] Everyone here cherishes the doctors.
[ VO ] The Ukrainian Armed Forces often hit civilian facilities, so old ladies like this one are not uncommon here.
[ patient 2 ] Thank you all. Goodbye
[ VO ] “300th” means “wounded.”
[ doctor 3 ] Here, I have a field dressing...
And...
A first aid kit, pliers to cut things, and the all-important knife
We use that to cut off a wounded man's clothes
That's all actually
There's also a personal sidearm,
an automatic weapon, which we get from the gun room
[ VO ] Under military regulations, the names of personnel aren’t made public.
[ VO ] So, everyone here is anonymous.
[ man ] We'd better go, straight on?
Should I put it down now?
[ VO ] The doctors’ faces are allowed to be shown,
[ VO ] for everyone to see that our guys are saved by ordinary folk just by themselves.
[ VO ] The market is a good sign too. It means a normal life is resuming
[ man 3 ] They're real huskies? [ man 4 ] Huskies, yes. Dog!
[ doctor 3 ] People seem to try and help us somehow,
though they have nothing because of the fighting
Many buildings have been damaged
and infrastructure, so people survive as they can
We probably help more
[ VO ] This is Volnovakha.
[ VO ] There was fighting all over the city.
[ doctor 3 ] Behind me is the Volnovakha Central District Hospital
Quite a big medical institution
that served the whole Volnovakha district
We see what's happened to this facility...
here...
the result of battles to liberate this spot
[ VO ] The destruction shows where the Ukrainian Army’s firing from.
[ doctor 3 ] At the moment, surviving premises and buildings
are being repaired
by medical staff from various hospital departments
[ man 3 ] You see that the hospital's slowly being restored
Much is intact...
some of the wings and rooms...
We can't do inpatient care
but we see outpatients
You can see staff running about fixing stuff
[ woman ] Don't film me, my hair's not done!
[ VO ] The girls here are joking too. That’s also a good sign.
[ doctor 3 ] Our medical team is based quite close...
to this hospital, and we're always here to provide 24/7 medical care
[ woman 2 ] Who's that? [ man ] Oh, hello!
Hello. Have you started yet?
Why? Yes, we're doing the drug rounds now
[ man ] Are you operating? [ woman 2 ] No, we have no autoclave
[ woman 2 ] We work as we can [ men ] Doctors?
[ woman 2 ] Mikhail Ivanovich. Mikhail! Come out please
[ Mikhail Ivanovich ] Have you started?
[ Mikhail Ivanovich ] In principle, in theory, yes. [ man 3 ] Did you get humanitarian aid?
[ man 3 ] Need any more help? [ Mikhail Ivanovich ] We still have some supplies
[ Mikhail Ivanovich ] Some old stocks, yes
We're finding stuff, so, occupancy isn't very…
[ woman ] Yes, occupancy is low [ Mikhail Ivanovich ] We're still putting things right,
[ woman ] fixing the infrastructure
[ Mikhail Ivanovich ] We're trying, yes. We fixed one…
That delivery. Remember? Of course
We thought you'd be in full swing Not so easy, sadly
One thing at a time We're near, just in case
[ Mikhail Ivanovich ] You'll help? [ men ] We're always here, on hand
[ VO ] We are always here, always ready.
[ VO ] In fact, these are key words here all the time.
[ man 4 ] So, what are we doing?
Left knee joint
You're making a mess there!
That's right
Women are always right
[ doctor ] It's been a hard day, I can say
We've had a mass inflow of patients...
of the wounded
Blast injuries are the most common form of trauma
Typical, as we say, injuries in armed conflicts
[ VO ] Treating these injuries exhausts the doctors’ resources. It’s time- and energy-consuming.
[ VO ] They require future state support – payments for prostheses and rehabilitation.
[ VO ] The Ukrainian Military uses cluster bombs in huge amounts.
[ VO ] It's beneficial in terms of military economy.
[ man 4 ] Here we go!
Who's wiggling his legs?
I'm not wiggling anything
[ patient 3 ] What's up, doc? It's all amazing
[ man 4 ] You'll walk... [ patient 3 ] I can't hear
[ man 4 ] You'll walk, but never give birth!
[ patient 3 ] Oh, so it's all good
[ VO ] After the wounded are admitted, piles of army boots are left.
[ VO ] Before treatment their boots are taken or cut off.
[ VO ] And then they are simply forgotten.
[ VO ] The soldiers are treated in hospitals of Rostov or Donetsk, but their boots are left here.
[ VO ] The medical unit admits wounded from the front line, they are stabilised and sent them to hospital.
[ VO ] This is an evacuation in progress.
[ VO ] The vehicles are deliberately left unwashed.
[ VO ] It's a natural camouflage.
[ VO ] Helicopters are a troop transporter, and the Ka-52 is for tactical support.
[ doctor ] We're a collection of highly trained specialists
like, doctors,
nurses and paramedics, junior medical personnel, and...
and service staff who guard us
and feed us
Because...
we are one organism, you could say
[ VO ] Good chefs are in demand.
[ chef ] We'll open these outsourced jars. It's ready-made soup
We get it from the warehouse
This is one!
[ VO ] This one could be a food blogger on YouTube.
[ chef ] Ready-made soup...
But sometimes, I don't prepare soup for a day or so
We might have cabbage soup for instance
We've got more cabbage than potatoes
We combine it all and that's it
Tomorrow, we might prepare pea or fish soup
We made the mustard...
only yesterday. It was a great success
Today, we'll do more with cucumber pickle
I always cook with a margin, but the food's from a common pot
All of us, doctors, nurses, and patients, eat the same
It's no different for those who've come from the frontline
or for the medical staff
Their food isn't tastier than ours. Everyone eats the same
Everything is quite tasty
A chef's delighted by empty plates. It means it was delicious
[ VO ] This man lives for his work.
[ VO ] He is the philosopher of military nutrition.
[ chef ] Some are in the field, others are at operating tables, I'm here
We work for a common goal
[ VO ] The team spirit here is impressive.
[ man 5 ] I sprayed myself [ men ] You'll attract all the mosquitoes!
[ VO ] This is the Russian Army.
[ man 6 ] He can't. It's unprofessional
[ chef ] The canned meat will soon come to boil for broth
I add bay leaves at the end
I let it boil for 10-15 minutes to make good broth. And that's it
After that the ready-made soups are added,
I make tea with mint and other herbs
Locals bring us herbs and spices
I always put them in the tea. People like it!
It's better than tea bags. People drink 2 or 3 glasses!
We'll have mashed potatoes tonight
There are some spuds left. I'll peel them
Ideally, I'd add some milk, but pickle juice will do
I'll add some butter, mash them, fry some onions and carrots,
add pepper, season, and that's it
Yesterday, we had pilaf
I seasoned it with turmeric and cumin
Once, some people shook my hand
and said it was like Uzbek pilaf
But to make authentic pilaf in such a pot is impossible
It's begun to boil
It's paradise here compared to some places!
[ VO ] It’s actually purgatory.
[ VO ] The people come here on the brink of death,
[ VO ] and a doctor must decide their fate.
[ VO ] Civilians are being shelled again. It’s a common situation.
[ man 7 ] The local commandant called
He said Vasilyevka came under mortar fire
An ambulance couldn't take 3 civilians
because they came under fire
We'll think it over and decide
We'll evacuate here. That's about it!
[ man 8 ] In turn!
[ man 9 ] There's a camera over there
[ man 10 ] You're doctors, but why the others?
[ man ] Civilians! 9, Sovietskaya Street, in Valeryanovka
Valeryanovka. 9, Sovietskaya St
[ man ] Did they shell something? [ driver ] Yes, civilians hit!
[ man ] Did the shell hit you? [ people ] No!
[ man ] Are there wounded here?
House number?
Where... That way?
What did he say?
Are there wounded here?
Wounded here?
The place has been blown up Are there wounded?
[ woman ] No! Just a few scratches
[ man ] Are you 17? [ boy ] 16! Guys! What is it?
[ man ] They called and asked us to help...
a man, a woman, and a 17-year-old boy
[ boy ] I'll be 17 next month!
[ woman ] Two houses blown up!
[ man ] They said there are wounded
The military told us
[ people ] Yes, wounded! [ people ] But only some scratches
[ woman ] They were all in the kitchen
[ man ] Is everyone alive and well?
[ woman ] Yes, everyone's alive, thank God!
We have nowhere to live
[ man ] When did it happen? [ woman ] At 3:30... It began at 3:30
[ woman ] Maybe at about four o'clock
4 times! Shells started flying in between 3:30 and 4:00
[ man ] All good? [ people ] No! Nothing is good!
[ man ] Everyone is alive! [ people ] Yes, that's the main thing
[ man ] You've stuff to treat the wound? [ woman ] Yes, thank you!
[ man ] We were told there were wounded, so we rushed here
Abort! 00:20:25.318 00:20:27.438 A boy got a scratch!
They're just shelling for the sake of it now!
[ VO ] Indiscriminate shelling appears to be a thing.
[ man ] At least, we had a ride!
Copy that!
[ VO ] While some creative people crinkle their noses when they hear about the special operation,
[ VO ] others go to the front line to support the guys.
[ man ] Hello! Aleksandr! [ men ] Hi, guys!
[ VO ] “Hypericum” has just performed for the Vostok battalion. Now they are here.
[ singer 1 ] We came from Moscow to Donbass
We've been several times already
[ singer 2 ] This is what I want to say: In our team of creative warriors,
there's a wonderful girl, a poetess from Lugansk, Elena Zaslavskaya
I'd now like to give the floor to her
She'll kick off our gig with her superb poetry 00:21:54.359 00:21:55:959 Elena Zaslavskaya!
[ Elena Zaslavskaya ] These Russians!
These Russian boys don't change:
war, revolution, Russian roulette
To die before growing old...
in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries...
These Russian girls don't change:
a Decembrist's wife, a sister of mercy
To love, serving as long as the heart endures...
in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries
You are my Russian boy:
war, militia, dying for your country
Nothing changes, nothing changes
Demons lurk, but angels wait on the threshold of eternity
[ band ] In the sky and on the water, we hold the wheel tight
These storm fronts have been sent to punish us for our sins
[ doctor ] An explosion? Can you feel your legs? Move your feet!
[ band ] Signal's down...no hope...
[ doctor ] 1st time I've catheterised a central vein while at a gig!
[ band ] My voice... you'll hear my voice
And understand I'm alive
My voice... you'll hear my voice
I'll come back home
[ soldier ] Did you see the guy with his guts spilling out?
The reconnaissance guys were on a mission
The enemy opened mortar fire, and that guy was unlucky
[ patient ] Damn! [ doctors ] Lie still!
[ soldier ] The group's commander and I went to get him, gave him first aid
It was a long shot, of course
[ doctor ] On and tied tight [ doctor ] Concentrate!
[ soldier ] While we were bandaging him, they aimed at us... accurately!
I got a slight leg wound
I took cover behind a fence
Our guys, the marines, evacuated the man
[ doctors ] That's it! Easy, easy!
He's under the knife now. Good luck, Sanya!
[ VO ] This piece of shrapnel ripped open the guy’s stomach. But he’ll be OK.
[ VO ] Here they fight for each and every life.
[ doctor 5 ] We're almost done, we've removed damaged tissue
He'll be OK! He'll be sent on for further treatment...
and rehabilitation later
[ doctor ] Human life is priceless
So, all of us who work and try to help soldiers and civilians
take the fate of every patient personally
So, we want to give all our energy and knowledge
to help... to save lives!
[ VO ] Children are also brought here, of course. Military doctors are more trusted now.
Thanks a lot!
[ VO ] It's the times.