UK Defence Medical Command has welcomed Major General Anatolii
Kazmirchuk, Surgeon General of the Medical Forces of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine, for a UK visit focused on strengthening
medical cooperation and support.
During the visit, he met senior Defence clinical leaders
including Chief of Defence Medical Air Marshal Clare Walton and
UK Surgeon General Major General Phil Carter.
He also met Defence Medical personnel and saw how UK Defence
medical capability continues to support the Ukrainian Armed
Forces.
Discussions covered the medical challenges created by drone
warfare, including evacuation and the movement of medical
personnel, and the lessons the UK and NATO allies can learn from
Ukraine's experience.
Surgeon General of the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces
of Ukraine, Major General Anatolii Kazmirchuk, said:
The Medical Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
appreciates the professional interaction with UK Defence Medical.
Such cooperation is aimed at improving the provision of medical
services to Ukrainian defenders. Thanks to the valuable exchange
of experience and knowledge wounded Ukrainian service personnel
are either returning to service or being successfully
rehabilitated and reintegrated back into civilian life.
Major General Anatolii Kazmirchuk also agreed to strengthen
research and knowledge-sharing with the Institute of Naval
Medicine in Gosport, and toured the medical bay on board the
Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless.
The visit also included a briefing from the UK Defence Medical
innovation team on emerging technologies for front-line medicine,
and a visit to the Royal London Hospital, one of the UK's leading
major trauma centres, where he saw how survival rates have
improved for severely injured patients through early replacement
of lost blood.
At Defence Medical Command in Lichfield, Major General Kazmirchuk
visited the Defence Medical Academy, where Ukrainian medical
personnel have received training, and discussed multinational
collaboration, including the UK's leading role in NATO's Project
Renovator to support Ukraine's rehabilitation capability.
He also agreed to a research exchange programme pairing UK
Defence Clinical Advisors with their Ukrainian counterparts to
support collaboration and shared learning.
Chief of Defence Medical Air Marshal Clare Walton
said:
I am really proud of Defence Medical's role in supporting Ukraine
by providing medical support and assistance to its Armed Forces,
and during this visit renewed our commitment to continue to work
to protect their health as they fight to counter Russia's illegal
invasion.
It was humbling to once again meet Major General Anatolii
Kazmirchuk and to speak to him about the medical challenges he
and all our colleagues in the Ukraine Medical Forces face. We
truly value our partnership and are very grateful for all the
insights we have received, there is much we can learn from our
friends. Our support is steadfast and the whole of the UK Defence
Medical Services stands with him and Ukraine.
Surgeon General of the UK Armed Forces Major General Phil
Carter added:
This visit demonstrates the strength of the partnership between
UK Defence Medical and our Ukrainian counterparts. By sharing
expertise, training together and learning from each other's
experiences, we are actively supporting Ukraine, and
strengthening our own military medical capability.
We remain committed to supporting Ukraine through sustained
collaboration, innovation and education, ensuring their medical
personnel are equipped to meet the challenges they are facing.
The visit builds on an agreement signed last year between the
Defence Medical Academy (DMA) and the Ukrainian Military Medical
Academy (UMMA) to support military medical education, scientific
research and joint training opportunities.
