The Ukrainian Red Cross has inaugurated a barrier-free inclusive First Aid Training Center in Kyiv, designed to enhance the training of instructors and the development of modern teaching methodologies. Maxim Dozenko, President of the Ukrainian Red Cross, emphasized that the launch of this center represents an investment not just in infrastructure, but in people’s ability to save lives.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, nearly 500,000 individuals have undergone first aid training through the Ukrainian Red Cross. The organization aims to expand this knowledge further, strengthen the professional training of instructors, and foster a culture of first aid within Ukraine, where the ability to act in critical situations becomes a fundamental skill for everyone.
Currently, the Ukrainian Red Cross boasts over 500 certified first aid instructors, with their programs recognized in 191 countries worldwide. Additionally, the VIII Summer First Aid School in 2026 brought together 107 instructors and trainers from across Ukraine.
This new Training Center will serve as a platform for systematic training, qualification enhancement for instructors and coaches, testing innovative teaching methods, and sharing experiences to further develop Ukrainian expertise in first aid.
Nadiya Yamnenko, head of the first aid program at the Ukrainian Red Cross, stated, “We want the Center to be a place where not only the algorithms of first aid are taught but where the quality of education itself is continuously developed. Here, we will prepare instructors, test new methods, develop inclusive approaches, and transfer this experience to the regions. The more well-trained instructors we have, the more people across Ukraine will gain practical skills that could one day save lives.”
A key focus for the Ukrainian Red Cross is the promotion of inclusive first aid training. In 2026, the organization introduced a scientific-methodological study and updated methodology tailored for individuals with various disabilities, adapting programs, materials, and practical exercises.
This Ukrainian expertise has already received international recognition. In 2026, the Ukrainian Red Cross won the European stage of the First Aid World Cup in the “Innovative First Aid and Resuscitation” category, competing against 162 teams from 85 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, and represented Europe in the global finals in Dubai.
The opening of the Training Center marks a significant step in enhancing the first aid system of the Ukrainian Red Cross, ensuring that more individuals across Ukraine can access quality, modern, and inclusive first aid knowledge.
