Frederiek shadowed at Ukrainian military hospital: "Injuries I had never seen before"

Frederiek Roukens, a 26-year-old medical student from Amsterdam, recently returned from a week-long volunteer placement at an intensive care unit in a military hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine. During her time there, she treated soldiers suffering from severe war injuries that she had never encountered before, describing the experience as emotionally taxing. Roukens had previously visited the country to deliver medical supplies via the Protect Ukraine foundation, but felt compelled to offer direct clinical assistance after learning about the critical need for extra hands at the front-line facility. She noted the constant presence of air raid sirens and the sounds of explosions near the hospital. Although she faced initial doubts about her impact, positive reinforcement from local medical staff encouraged her to stay. Now back in Amsterdam, she is preparing for her medical rotations while reflecting on the jarring transition between the conflict zone and the safety of her home. She plans to return to Ukraine as soon as she has the opportunity.