Ukrainian medics risk lives on front line as Russia pushes west in Dnipro region

In eastern Ukraine, the front lines of the war have become a treacherous landscape where medical teams navigate dangerous supply routes under constant threat from Russian drones. The Ukrainian army's fifth assault brigade field hospital, dug into a hillside, serves as the closest medical facility in the region. Despite the use of jammers to create 'safe corridors', every journey remains a high-stakes gamble. Field doctors work tirelessly in subterranean safe havens, performing emergency surgeries and stabilising the wounded before evacuation. Without helicopters, these evacuations are challenging, and delays can prove fatal. The nature of injuries has evolved, with complex wounds from drones and shrapnel becoming more common. As mortars and small arms fire echo in the distance, medical staff grapple with the harsh realities of battlefield medicine. They must make split-second decisions between those they can save and those beyond help. While European capitals debate policy, these frontline medics focus solely on the narrow margin between life and death, working to tip the balance in favour of survival. Their efforts underscore the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the critical role of battlefield medicine in modern warfare. Al Jazeera's Zein Basravi reports from Dnipro region, Ukraine. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Ukraine #UkraineWar #PTSD #ScarsOfWar #CombatMedics #AlJazeeraEnglish