Kyiv residents turn to first-aid kits as Russian drone strikes raise civilian injuries

A September Geran drone hit the SBU headquarters in Kyiv, knocking warehouse employee Stanislaw to the ground and causing severe bleeding from metal fragments. Bystanders with basic first-aid supplies rushed to his aid, using tourniquets and bandages before the ambulance arrived, and he later recovered. The attack, one of several recent daytime drone assaults that also damaged the My - Ukrajina media centre, left a total of 12 people injured.

In response, Kyiv citizens are increasingly learning emergency care; trainer Sergej Jefimtschuk says demand for courses and portable kits has risen sharply, with businesses requesting staff training. He advises carrying gloves, tourniquets and bandages at all times, noting that 10-20-minute ambulance delays can be deadly. Tourniquets are now sold in supermarkets, gas stations and even children’s stores, reflecting how first-aid preparedness has become a daily necessity for Ukrainians.