12 Years of Experience, 1 Critical Moment: BelSU Student Aids Drone Attack Victims

Elizaveta Rakova, a nurse anaesthetist at the Almazov National Medical Research Centre, was on the beach in the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka when the attack occurred.

Without hesitation, she began bandaging the wounded and applying tourniquets to those with severe bleeding. After stabilizing victims on the scene, she spent several additional hours assisting medical staff at the local hospital, helping to manage the influx of injured patients.

Rakova’s response was shaped by more than a decade of high-pressure medical work. She has 12 years of experience in intensive care and has repeatedly travelled to combat zones to provide care at field hospitals.

Local TV and radio companies reported on her actions, highlighting the critical role that trained medical professionals can play in the first minutes after a mass casualty event when seconds matter.