Protect our Lifesavers

One of the particularly ugly aspects of the war in Ukraine is that rescue workers are systematically being targeted and killed on a daily basis. We were contacted by two colleagues who, as civilian rescue service members, are repeatedly deployed in the area around Vovchansk, one of the hotspots on the frontline north of Kharkiv. They reported several deaths and injuries among their teams, mainly due to drone attacks. Those who were visibly wearing protective waistcoats seemed to have been attacked particularly often. Or at least that's how it was perceived. We procured lightweight flak jackets for our colleagues to wear under their clothing from a specialist company. Whether this will reliably protect them from all dangers remains in question. But here, as elsewhere, we are guided by the principle that decisions in favour of or against special equipment or special materials should generally be left to those who have to work with them. After all, it is ultimately their life, their work and their health.