Kyiv Officials Deny Claims That Medics Refuse Calls During Air Raid Alarms

Refuting Allegations About Emergency Medical Response During Air Raids

According to Главком: Recent reports circulating on Telegram channels alleging that medical teams in Kyiv have been refusing to respond to emergency calls during air raid alerts have been dismissed as manipulative by the city's health authorities. In a formal statement, the Kyiv City State Administration's Department of Health provided detailed statistics to counter these claims, emphasizing that emergency medical services have remained fully operational throughout the full-scale invasion.

Since the start of the war, emergency medical teams in Kyiv have made 4,687 trips to 1,687 locations, providing care to 2,501 victims, including 2,309 adults and 192 children. Every day, 130 ambulance crews are on duty across the city, ready to respond to calls at any moment.

Breakdown of Emergency Response During Recent Attacks

The department released specific figures from recent missile attacks to highlight the consistent work of medical teams:

• May 14, 2026: Medics operated at 27 locations with 64 ambulance crews; 47 people (including 2 children) received help, 32 were hospitalized, and 12 were treated on-site.
• May 24, 2026: Operations expanded to 68 locations with 106 crews; 86 victims (including 3 children) were assisted, 68 were hospitalized (including 2 children), and 18 received on-site care.
• June 3, 2026: Teams worked at 47 locations with 78 crews, aiding 72 people (including 3 children); 55 were hospitalized (including 2 children), and 17 were treated on-site.
• June 15, 2026: Medics covered 55 locations with 71 crews, assisting 30 victims (including 2 children); 13 adults were hospitalized, and 17 were treated on-site.

Additionally, since the onset of the full-scale war, 1,114 ambulance crews have transported and evacuated 1,320 wounded military personnel. In total, Kyiv's medical teams have completed 26,569 emergency trips and provided care to 25,853 injured individuals.

The controversy arose after a Kyiv resident with an abdominal injury during a missile attack reported being told by a 103 emergency dispatcher: 'Wait until the air raid alert ends.' The same individual then contacted a private clinic called 'Dobrobut,' where staff reportedly said an ambulance would only be dispatched if the crew agreed to take the risk. In both cases, however, medics later called back and ultimately responded to the call during the ongoing attack.

“Wait until the air raid alert ends.”

103 emergency dispatcher

The Department of Health stresses that medical professionals continue to fulfill their duties despite the dangers. This clarification aims to reinforce public trust in the emergency medical system, especially as constant threats require citizens to have reliable access to life-saving care at all times.

By releasing this data, Kyiv authorities hope to dispel misinformation and underscore the dedication of medical personnel working under extreme wartime conditions.

As the situation surrounding emergency medical responses in Kyiv continues to evolve, recent incidents have raised concerns about the effectiveness of ambulance services during air raid alerts. In light of these developments, the Health Ministry has announced plans to establish special response teams to ensure timely assistance to those in need. For more details on the challenges faced by medical crews amid ongoing threats, you can read about the recent refusal of an ambulance crew to assist a wounded resident here.