--- title: "Ukraine's Health Ministry Explains How to Call an Ambulance During Shelling and Air Alarms" description: "Ukraine's Health Ministry has clarified the procedure for calling an ambulance during shelling and alarms: the 103 and 112 lines operate continuously, and a team's dispatch depends on the safety of the route. Medical staff are expected to receive additional payments for working under air-attack conditions." date: 2026-09-24T12:56:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraines-health-ministry-how-to-call-an-ambulance-during-shelling-and-air-alarms tags: [ukraine, emergency-medical-services, ministry-of-health, air-raid, ambulance, russian-attacks] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine's Health Ministry Explains How to Call an Ambulance During Shelling and Air Alarms ## 🎯 Key Points - Ambulance dispatch services in Ukraine operate continuously, including during air alarms - A team's dispatch to a shelling site depends on an assessment of the safety of the route to the patient - The legal basis for the teams' work is Ministry of Health Order No. 583 of 26 March 2021 - In Kyiv, the introduction of additional payments to medical staff for work during alarms and at strike sites is planned Emergency medical response teams in Ukraine continue to carry out a dual mission: they handle routine calls and regularly respond to the aftermath of Russian strikes on populated areas. At the same time, as explained by Ukraine's Ministry of Health, medical staff assess before each dispatch whether it is safe to proceed to the scene. The relevant information was published by RBC-Ukraine, citing an official document from the Ministry of Health. ### Legal Basis and Ways to Call a Team The procedure for the work of emergency medical response teams is established by Ministry of Health Order No. 583 of 26 March 2021. According to this document, a call can be made by dialling 103, through the unified emergency response system 112, or by means of other communication channels. The dispatcher who answers the call first assesses the nature of the patient's condition: if there are signs of an emergency, a team is dispatched to the location. In other cases, the dispatcher may limit themselves to verbal recommendations or direct the caller to a specialised medical facility. In addition, a team may be sent at the request of the leader of a team already working on site if additional reinforcement is needed to provide care. ### What to Tell the Dispatcher and How to Prepare the Location During the call to the dispatcher, the patient or their relatives are obliged to answer all questions asked. The key requirement is to give the exact address: the settlement, street, building number, and, where possible, also the apartment number, floor, entrance, and door code. If the exact address cannot be given, the caller should explain in detail how to reach the location and name the nearest landmarks. On site, free access to the patient must be ensured for the team, domestic animals that could interfere with the medical staff must be isolated, and, if necessary, assistance should be provided in transporting the person into the ambulance. If the patient is to be taken to a hospital, it is advisable to have a document confirming identity on hand. ### Continuous Operation of Dispatch Services During Alarms The Ministry of Health emphasises that the dispatch services of the emergency medical care and disaster medicine centres receive and process calls continuously, including during air alarms. This means that the 103 and 112 lines are not closed and not switched to a limited-service mode when the air-raid siren is sounded. The dispatcher can remain in contact with the caller until the team arrives and provide recommendations on first aid and basic life support. Emergency medical care, however, is not intended for scheduled procedures or situations that are not emergencies: in such cases the dispatcher redirects the request and indicates which medical facility should be contacted. ### Route Safety as the Deciding Factor The key difference in ambulance operations under wartime conditions is that, during shelling, the team's arrival directly depends on information about the safety of access to the scene. Medical staff can depart only when the route and the call location are accessible given the current situation. This is not a refusal of help, but an operational decision made on the basis of safety data. The Ministry of Health also appeals to drivers to yield the road to ambulances: this allows medical staff to reach patients whose lives are in danger more quickly. ### Special Situations, Conflicts, and Interaction with the Police In the event of a non-standard situation or a conflict arising around a call, the patient or their representatives may contact the senior on-duty medical officer of the operational dispatch service of the emergency medical care and disaster medicine centre. If the patient or surrounding persons display aggressive behaviour β€” including as a result of alcohol, drug, or toxic intoxication, as well as in cases of acute mental disorder β€” medical staff are entitled to provide care and transport the patient accompanied by police officers. ### Financial Support for Medical Staff on the Frontline Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that in Kyiv additional payments are planned for emergency medical care workers for service during air alarms and dispatches to the sites of Russian strikes. The amount of the supplement, according to available data, will depend on the specific conditions and the actual time spent by medical staff in the risk zone. Separately, the publication published a piece on the new rules for hospital operations in Ukraine during air alarms, which complement the overall regulation of the healthcare system's functioning under combat conditions. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [How to Call Emergency Medical Care During Shelling and Alarms: A Clarification by the Ministry of Health](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/k-viklikati-ekstrenu-medichnu-dopomogu-pid-1790253178.html) - ЕдинствСнный источник, содСрТащий ΠΏΠΎΠ»Π½Ρ‹ΠΉ тСкст Ρ€Π°Π·ΡŠΡΡΠ½Π΅Π½ΠΈΡ ΠœΠΈΠ½Π·Π΄Ρ€Π°Π²Π° Π£ΠΊΡ€Π°ΠΈΠ½Ρ‹. Π£ΠΊΠ°Π·Π°Π½Ρ‹ Π½ΠΎΠΌΠ΅Ρ€ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠΊΠ°Π·Π° (β„–583 ΠΎΡ‚ 26.03.2021), Π½ΠΎΠΌΠ΅Ρ€Π° Π²Ρ‹Π·ΠΎΠ²Π° (103, 112), порядок дСйствий диспСтчСра ΠΈ ΠΏΠ°Ρ†ΠΈΠ΅Π½Ρ‚Π°, условия Π²Ρ‹Π΅Π·Π΄Π° Π±Ρ€ΠΈΠ³Π°Π΄Ρ‹ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈ обстрСлС. Π”ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»Π½ΠΈΡ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½Ρ‹ΠΉ контСкст ΠΎ Π΄ΠΎΠΏΠ»Π°Ρ‚Π°Ρ… ΠΌΠ΅Π΄ΠΈΠΊΠ°ΠΌ Π² КиСвС Ρ‚Π°ΠΊΠΆΠ΅ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ²Π΅Π΄Ρ‘Π½ Π² Ρ‚ΠΎΠΌ ΠΆΠ΅ ΠΌΠ°Ρ‚Π΅Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Π»Π΅. ΠŸΡ€ΠΎΡ‚ΠΈΠ²ΠΎΡ€Π΅Ρ‡ΠΈΠΉ с Π΄Ρ€ΡƒΠ³ΠΈΠΌΠΈ источниками Π½Π΅ выявлСно. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Can I call an ambulance during an air alarm? **A:** Yes. The dispatch services of the emergency medical care centres receive calls continuously, including during air alarms. The 103 and 112 lines operate without interruption. ### Q: Will an ambulance team come to a shelling site? **A:** The team's arrival depends on information about the safety of access to the scene. Medical staff depart only when the route and the call location are accessible given the current security situation. ### Q: Which numbers should I dial to call an ambulance in Ukraine? **A:** A call can be made by dialling 103, through the unified emergency response system 112, or by means of other communication channels. ### Q: What should I do if I cannot give the exact address? **A:** You need to explain in detail to the dispatcher how to reach the location and name the nearest landmarks. It is also important to ensure the team free access to the patient and to isolate any animals. ### Q: Are additional payments provided to medical staff for work during alarms? **A:** In Kyiv, the introduction of additional payments for emergency medical care workers for service during air alarms and dispatches to the sites of Russian strikes is planned. The amount of the supplement will depend on the conditions and the actual working time.