A Ukrainian workshop east of Kyiv turns ordinary vehicles into armored ambulances, fundamentally altering battlefield medical response.
At a Glance
- A volunteer workshop in Poltava, Ukraine, is converting civilian cars into armored ambulances for battlefield use.
- The project, led by former medics, addresses a dire shortage of emergency vehicles on the front lines.
- The converted vehicles have bulletproof materials, autonomous heaters, and modern medical equipment.
- Feedback from combat medics is used to continually refine the designs, resulting in custom features like specialized lighting.
- A fundraising campaign is underway to fund more of these life-saving vehicles.
A Beacon of Innovation in Ukraine
In war-torn Ukraine, a volunteer-driven workshop is making a significant impact by converting civilian vehicles into life-saving armored ambulances. Located east of Kyiv in Poltava, the project addresses the dire shortage of emergency vehicles on the front lines. As detailed in a feature by The Christian Science Monitor, volunteers led by former medics Ihor Tkachov and Polina Melnyk are transforming cars with bulletproof materials and modern medical equipment.
“You need space for the wounded and to be able to work at the level of your hands, not on your knees, on the floor,” Tkachov emphasizes, explaining the need for custom, adaptable designs.
Overcoming Challenges with Resourcefulness
The transformation process is continuously refined with direct input from combat medics on the front lines. Despite operating under financial constraints and the looming threat of team member conscription, Polina Melnyk is steadfast. “I was working as a medic. I know the problems and why it is important to make these evacuation cars,” she said. “I like to see the results of making them. Medics can save more lives like this.”
The impact of these vehicles is profound. As one soldier recounted to the aid organization Razom for Ukraine, “The armor and reliability of the Toyota gave me a sense of safety—something I hadn’t felt on the battlefield. It became more than just transport; I hoped to return home.”
A Campaign to Save More Lives
Efforts now extend beyond the workshop, with campaigns to fund additional armored vehicles proving crucial. Historian Timothy Snyder has highlighted one such campaign on his Substack newsletter, which is being organized with Polish activist Sławek Sierakowski. “People keep writing to ask what they can do to help Ukraine,” the campaign states. “There is a simple way to ensure that more Ukrainian soldiers survive… by funding armored evacuation vehicles.”
The broader goal, as seen on Ukraine’s official U24 fundraising platform, is to raise millions to procure and convert dozens more of these vehicles. They are urgently needed, as Russian forces are known to target medics and their ambulances in the conflict zones.
