KYIV — When a Russian missile tore through a nine-story apartment building in Ukraine’s capital on Thursday, a graphic designer named Max was already on the scene before the air-raid alert had even been lifted — helping search for survivors before clocking in for his regular workday.
Max is one of roughly 700 volunteers serving with the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency rescue operation. He described the emotional toll of responding to such scenes, saying, “Mentally, it’s a lot easier now because years have gone by and we’ve adapted a bit. But of course it’s hard.”
Max, 43, identifiable by his close-cut mohawk and bold black wing tattoos on either side of his neck, joined fellow volunteers on team leader Taras Didenko’s crew as they moved through darkened, dust-covered hallways in search of anyone who might still be alive.
Didenko, 46, serves as a deputy unit commander for the Ukrainian Red Cross. He described how his team must think on their feet during chaotic situations. “We’re always planning,” he said. “We see all kinds of situations and have to make decisions on the spot.”
Thursday’s assault was enormous in scale. Russia launched 496 drones and 74 missiles during the overnight attack, which killed at least 21 people and wounded approximately 90 others. It marked the worst destruction in Kyiv this year and the deadliest attack since at least May.
Dispatched by the State Emergency Service, Ukrainian Red Cross teams typically assess multiple locations during large-scale attacks before focusing on wherever the need is greatest. Max explained their approach: “First we do a general check: who needs help, what kind. We go apartment to apartment, because people might be stuck inside, or unconscious.”
Working alongside firefighters and other emergency responders, the volunteers helped carry injured residents — young and old, men and women alike — through piles of rubble, broken glass, and debris. Meanwhile, uninjured building residents anxiously scanned the faces of those being brought out on stretchers, searching for people they knew.
The Ukrainian Red Cross maintains around two dozen volunteer teams like this one stationed throughout the country. Their members come from a wide range of backgrounds, including IT professionals and kindergarten teachers. When they are not responding to air strikes, these teams can be found at car accident scenes or providing support at community events like music festivals.
On Thursday alone, the teams treated 35 people across Kyiv, according to a spokesperson.
Another volunteer, a 21-year-old project manager named Anet, was on the scene wearing a bright red armored vest and a helmet-mounted camera. She noted that every strike site presents its own set of challenges. “Since there’s very serious damage here to a residential building, there’s a lot of work, and it’s difficult,” she said.
As Russian air attacks continue to grow in intensity, volunteer rescue teams like Didenko’s have become increasingly skilled at responding to mass-casualty events — all while many of them hold down regular jobs on the side.
