Ukrainian First Responders Learn Life-Saving Birth Skills in Lviv

In Lviv, Ukraine, a room full of first responders, including paramedics, gathered to learn from experts about how to not only save lives, but also bring life safely into the world.

Supporting women giving birth in emergency settings is a role that Ukrainian first responders have been asked to step into frequently since Feb. 2022, with more women giving birth in bomb shelters, in remote communities, and outside of hospital walls.

"With the start of the full-scale invasion, women don't always make it to the hospital in time," said Larysa Cheprasova, President of the Ukrainian Midwives' Union, the organization that led the May 2026 training. The organization has trained over 400 first responders during more than 50 trainings in safe birth techniques across the country.

"The ambulance sometimes manages to get there in time, but [first responders] lack the necessary expertise," she said. The session taught first responders how to assist a woman giving birth during an emergency delivery, and is one of the many programs administered by the Ukrainian Midwives' Union, which works to train and develop midwives and support safe births in the country.

Direct Relief provided more than $300,000 to the Ukrainian Midwives' Union to support their work, including first responder training so more women and babies could have access to safe deliveries even in emergency settings.

"Our organization is very grateful to Direct Relief; otherwise we wouldn't be able to host this training session," she said.

Direct Relief's humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine has surpassed $2.5 billion. Since February 2022, Direct Relief has delivered 6.4 million pounds of medicines and medical supplies, including cancer therapies, insulin, and biologic medicines.

The total also includes more than $75 million in financial commitments to health organizations and institutions in Ukraine and to groups serving displaced Ukrainians. This funding supports surgery, rehabilitation, mental health services, maternal and pediatric care, medical transport, backup power, and other essential services. Direct Relief has invested more than $12 million in backup power for Ukrainian hospitals, patients, and communities.