She Died Saving the Wounded in Kyiv: Hospitaller Paramedic Killed During Russian Night Attack
Russian forces struck Kyiv in the early hours of August 1. Among those killed was Eva Royter, a 25-year-old paramedic from the volunteer medical battalion "Hospitallers." She was helping injured people during the attack when a second Russian strike hit her area. The assault damaged buildings across five districts of the capital, killing 9 people and wounding more than 30, including 4 children. Volunteer medics like Royter play a vital role in Ukraine's emergency response to these attacks.
Royter was also an artist and art historian. She had earned a bachelor's degree from the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture and worked in the game development industry. She joined the Hospitallers in November 2022, helping to support the Medical Forces and taking part in the information campaign "Veterans are different. Victory is one."
"We have to report terrible news again... It is very hard to tell people about the deaths of incredible, bright individuals. While she was saving the wounded during the shelling on the night of August 1, our sister, Hospitaller paramedic Eva Royter, was killed under a repeated Russian strike. Our 'Planochka,' our 'Alice.' She was only 25." — Hospitallers press office
In recent times, Royter had been on duty with rescue teams in Kyiv. "She ran toward the fire to help others and died as a heroine. We still cannot believe it. This is unspeakable pain. We will not forgive the Russians for any death," the battalion said.
The overnight attack involved 35 missiles of various types and 185 drones, with the Kyiv region targeted as the main direction. Royter's death becomes another chapter in the Hospitallers' losses, which also include battalion member Oleksandr Oliinyk and fellow Hospitaller Maria-Khrystyna Dvoinik, known as "Alpaca."
The consequences of the strike were severe: five districts reported damage, with 9 dead and over 30 wounded, including 4 children. The tragedy is yet another reminder of the price paid by Ukrainian medical volunteers who keep saving lives in the middle of war.
Royter's loss is a new wound for Ukraine and a stark example of the risks faced by health workers in conflict zones. Her work with the Hospitallers and her creative life show how many young people, even knowing the danger, choose to serve their communities. With the capital still under constant threat, stronger protection for civilians and more support for medical services in combat zones remain urgent needs.
The tragic loss of Eva Royter highlights the ongoing dangers faced by those responding to the aftermath of attacks in Kyiv. Just days prior, a cleanup operation revealed the devastating impact of a previous strike, which resulted in nine fatalities and left many wounded. This underscores the critical role of emergency responders like Royter, who bravely risk their lives amidst such chaos.