UK and Ukraine strengthen defence medical cooperation during senior military medical visit
Major General Anatolii Kazmirchuk visited the UK to strengthen defence medical cooperation with Ukraine, including collaboration on training, research and front-line care.
Major General Anatolii Kazmirchu. MOD Crown Copyright
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.
Major General Anatolii Kazmirchuk meets Chief of Defence Medical Air Marshal Clare Walton. MOD Crown Copyright
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.
Major General Anatolii Kazmirchuk saw how UK Defence medical capability continues to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces. MOD Crown Copyright.
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.
Major General Anatolii Kazmirchuk meeting Defence Medical personnel. MOD Crown Copyright.