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A UK charity is warning that years of war have pushed thousands of emergency responders in Ukraine to breaking point.
FIRE AID says some 60,000 Ukrainian rescuers are experiencing widespread psychological harm after years of continuous service, with no dedicated independent mental health provision available to them. That’s why a year ago the charity set up Brave Minds, an in-country programme, which provides one-to-one online therapy, round-the-clock crisis support, and self-help resources, all delivered by qualified Ukrainian psychologists and offered free of charge.
Now, FIRE AID is urging the public to get behind the programme and contribute £3 a month to support its expansion so that Brave Minds can reach more rescuers in need of psychological care.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SESU) operates with approximately 60,000 personnel. Since February 2022, Ukrainian rescuers have worked under conditions rarely seen in modern European emergency services: repeated bombardment of civilian infrastructure, sustained operations in active combat zones, and chronic exposure to mass-fatality incidents.
Since 2022, FIRE AID has delivered 155 fire trucks and more than 350,000 items of equipment to SESU. However, after working directly with rescuers, the charity recognised that physical resources alone were insufficient.
Edward Matthews, Project Manager for Brave Minds, said: “Rescuers are asking for help, often after extremely difficult incidents. Small, regular donations allow us to provide stable, long-term care. If thousands of people give the price of a coffee each month, we can support rescuers across the entire country.”
As the programme enters its second year, the focus is shifting to expanding services across Ukraine. These are the same personnel who will be essential to any future reconstruction and long-term civil resilience in the country. Ensuring they are psychologically fit to continue has never been more urgent.
Viktoria Kryvolapchuk, Lead Psychologist for Brave Minds, said: “Since 2022, 113 rescuers have been killed, 577 injured, and 458 fire stations have been destroyed. We need to ensure our rescuers are mentally fit to work because the fire service is an essential part of civil defence. Whether in war or peace, there is no end in sight to the psychological burden they carry.”
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