Working group on medical issues set up at MoD, headed by Tyra
The Ministry of Defense has responded to a large number of appeals from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide medical support to soldiers and has created a working group headed by Yulia "Tyra" Payevska to address the problems.
This was announced at a briefing by Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"We looked at the list of their claims and recommendations [NGOs]. A meeting was held with about 42 representatives of institutions. And we agreed that we would set up a permanent working group at the ministry on this issue. At the meeting, the well-known Yulia Payevska volunteered to head this group," the minister said.
She agreed to head this working group and develop certain proposals together with those who will join it.
Reznikov also said that he had instructed his deputy, Hanna Maliar, together with the commander of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Tetyana Ostashchenko, "to travel to the most important places where the area of increased attention is, first of all, the front line, and visit all the military medical commissions (MMCs) that are located in cities along the front line within 10 days."
Reznikov clarified that today they are to go on a working trip and, accordingly, report back within 10 days on what is happening there and what needs are there.
Reznikov said that a decision has already been made to increase the number of MMCs along the front line so that wounded soldiers can go to these institutions. They will operate not only in military hospitals but also in civilian healthcare facilities. "In addition, according to my directive, it will be mandatory to introduce additional psychologists' positions in all medical institutions. Because there was a mistaken and false perception that the wounded should receive psychological assistance after the completion of treatment. The very fact of being wounded is already a psychological trauma," the minister said.
As reported, Ukrainian volunteer and paramedic Yulia Payevska provided medical assistance to participants of the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine in 2013, and as the head of the volunteer paramedic unit "Angels of Tyra" conducted tactical medical training on the front line of Donbas from 2014 to 2018. Payevska is known for her work in secretly filming and exporting videos documenting atrocities committed by Russian troops in Mariupol. The invaders detained Payevska on March 16, 2022, when she tried to evacuate women and children from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia, despite her clear status as a non-combatant. During her three-month detention, Payevska lived in a tiny cell with 22 other women. In June 2022, she was released from captivity.