Ukraine’s war-tested firefighters share advice with L.A.’s
Few firefighters have the practice that Ukraine’s finest do: here’s what they’ve learned. Fires exacerbated by climate change are a global problem, one that extends from Ukraine all the way to the U.S
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As morning arrived this past Friday, Los Angeles residents awoke to reports of spreading, deadly wildfires – with courageous firefighters trying to hold the line.
Half a world away in Kyiv, the morning also started with a call for rescuers. The remnants of a drone had hit a residential building in Kyiv during a Russian raid, and first responders rushed to the scene.
As a result of Russia’s war, more than 6,000 fires of various sizes were recorded across Ukraine in 2024. That’s actually less than in previous years: in 2022, the year the war began, shelling and air attacks caused more than 12,000 fires. Over the last few years, Ukraine’s firefighters have sadly become some of the world’s most experienced in fighting blazes in urban areas.
But from the ashes, the L.A. fires foreshadow how Ukraine’s experience may be turned into something good in the post-war period – the ability to export the lessons they have learned to colleagues and allies all around the world. In fact, as the war-torn country rebuilds, Ukraine has a sense of solidarity with Los Angeles that few others can match.

The latest outbreak of ferocious California wildfires began last Tuesday. Just a few days later the consequences are excruciating. At least 24 people have been killed, and about 105,000 people are still under mandatory evacuation. There are around 12,000 destroyed buildings, while around 35,000 homes and businesses in the area are without electricity. The fire is forcing more than 14,000 firefighters to work tirelessly in the California region, using 84 aircrafts and 1,354 fire engines.

Behind every massive disaster like this stand those who risk their lives to contain the uncontrollable – the firefighters. Whether it’s wildfires consuming acres of forests or urban blazes caused by war, dedication and courage are necessary traits.
Last week, the Counteroffensive met Serhii*, a first responder in Kyiv. As so often, his day had started with an emergency call – this time due to a gas explosion. He said that at least three fire engines respond to every call in Kyiv. Fortunately, this time no one was hurt.
Serhii has been a first responder for almost three years, starting after Russian forces destroyed his family home in Kyiv region and killed his father.
Serhii tells this with notes of optimism, which is both surprising and inspiring.
"You have to take these things lightly. When I joined the rescue service, I realized this was just the beginning," he said.
The Counteroffensive visited a fire station just as the firefighters had returned from the call. Every fire engine is thoroughly washed after a mission.

Serhii explained that in emergencies, ensuring there is enough water for large-scale fires is critical.
"The water in the trucks only lasts for about 8 minutes of work," he said. Each tanker on the truck holds 4,000 liters of water, and with one hose, about 500 liters are used per minute.
Los Angeles also faced a water issue, particularly thanks to the loss of water pressure in its hydrants. California Governor Gavin Newsom called for an investigation into why the Santa Ynez Reservoir was empty and closed for maintenance.
Despite the heavy mental and physical toll of Serhii’s work – his full gear weighs about 80 kilograms – he is always full of energy.
Serhii was also on duty in July, when Russian forces struck the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. Firefighters have a call ranking system, with Level 5 being the most severe. Serhii says that the strike on Okhmatdyt was one of the highest levels he has seen.

Staying in the right mindset for the job isn’t always easy, and Serhii advises his colleagues and new recruits to always support one another. Dark humor helps them cope.
Don’t forget about your own health – if possible, drink plenty of water and remember to eat regularly,” Serhii told his Los Angeles colleagues. “As for the public, trust your rescuers, listen to their advice, and remember that they are doing an incredible job, helping and saving people's lives.”
Climate change is one of the key reasons why the number of uncontrolled fires of this magnitude is increasing every year. For example, between 1980 and 2023, there were 22 large-scale fires recorded in the U.S. 18 of these occurred after 2000, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In all, about 62,000 wildfires occur annually in the U.S., and climate change has been a contributor to these too. Climate change heating and drying caused between two-thirds and 99 percent of the increase in California’s fire weather over the last few decades, according to a team of scientists from the ClimaMeter project. This year, strong winds and a harsh drought are adding to difficulties.
Climate change doesn’t only affect the U.S. – it is a problem for every country in the world, including Ukraine. In September 2024, 33 wildfires were extinguished in Ukraine during the dry season. Of course, Russia also contributes to the creation of such fires in Ukraine. Last year, shelling caused 60 percent of wildfires across Ukraine.
In some areas of Ukraine, the fires are particularly dangerous, such as in Chornobyl, where fires significantly increase the chance of radiation being released into the air. On top of that, Ukrainian firefighters in many areas also have to deal with the possibility of mined forests and abandoned Russian ammunition that could detonate at any moment.
Petro*, another firefighter who spoke to The Counteroffensive, worked under these dangerous conditions, comparing his experience to the situation in L.A. He started his career as a firefighter in the summer of 2022.
“If it’s a missile strike call, we put additional body armor over our firefighting gear. It’s extra weight that you feel,” he noted. “This is how the guys work, especially in the Eastern regions, where missile strikes happen daily.”
After watching several videos of large-scale fires in Los Angeles, Petro recalled the days when he was fighting forest fires in Chornobyl. There too, the wind could change the situation in a matter of minutes, meaning the fire was out of control, and spreading rapidly. High winds can make it almost impossible for firefighters to work using aviation.
“I think the Los Angeles rescuers are doing their best. They have deployed all available resources,” he said.
Petro and his colleagues express their support for the Los Angeles firefighters and believe that they will be able to stop the fire as soon as possible.
“All firefighters and rescuers have our own difficult, risky job and only those who have tried it can understand this, but we don't ask to be understood,” Petro said. “We do this because we want to do it. We have chosen this path!”
The ongoing disaster in Los Angeles has particularly affected the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and the Hollywood Hills, the capital of the American film industry.
Much like in Ukraine, the situation in California can change in an instant. Last month, there were no signs of fires during the holiday season. As it happens, one of our correspondents visited Santa Monica just a few weeks before the fires broke out:
Here's a comparison of how Santa Monica Pier looked on December 13 vs on January 7.

In some ways, the fires in the U.S. are easier to predict than those in Ukraine. In Los Angeles, fires are mostly caused by natural phenomena; while the residents of California are prepared in advance thanks to alert systems such as ‘Watch Duty,’ clear evacuation plans, and the presence of specialized services.
Experts and investigators are considering the possibility that the new fire could have reignited due to strong winds in Los Angeles, as firefighters had already extinguished the fire at the very same location on New Year's Eve. Old fires can reignite due to underground smoldering.
Russia, on the other hand, creates artificial fire by launching missile strikes on Ukraine.
Krystyna Zahrebelna, originally from Kharkiv, has been living in California for five and a half years. She has gotten used to the annual wildfires, but the scale of this fire is shocking – it's the first time she's seen anything like this during her time living there.
The situation fluctuates: sometimes it's better, sometimes worse. The wind is expected to continue this week, which is a real cause for concern, as it helps spread the fire.

California has become a second home for Krystyna, and it pains her deeply to see how people, animals, and nature suffer.
She draws a worried parallel:
“Visually, the Pacific Palisades area after the fires looks roughly like Vovchansk [a destroyed city in the Kharkiv region] – scorched earth, as if dozens of bombs were dropped.”

Disasters often test the strength of friendship. Even though she is thousands of miles away, and they are living in a warzone, Krystyna has received many generous messages of support from Ukrainians.
Similarly, President Zelenskyy has expressed his condolences over the fires in California and the loss of lives. This past weekend, in his evening address, the President of Ukraine stated that 150 trained Ukrainian firefighters would be assisting their American colleagues.
*Serhii and Petro’s last names cannot be disclosed for security reasons.
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NEWS OF THE DAY
Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.
SANCTIONED TANKERS CARRYING RUSSIAN OIL ARE LYING IDLE OFF CHINA: Tankers carrying more than 2 million barrels of Russian oil have become stuck off the eastern coast of China after being hit with U.S. sanctions on Friday. One of the tankers, Huihai Pacific, was scheduled to arrive at a port in China on January 15, but changed course and is now anchored at sea. Other tankers are also blocked due to sanctions targeting Russian oil exports.
India, like China, plans to stop accepting oil tankers that have been hit by U.S. sanctions regarding Russia. After January 10, restrictions will apply to sanctioned vessels that were chartered in Indian ports.
DONALD TRUMP EXTENDS WAR DEADLINE: Donald Trump has postponed his promise to end the war in Ukraine in ‘24 hours,’ stating that it may take several months. His team has not yet decided on a strategy, but support for Kyiv will continue in the interim.
Trump suggests that six months is a realistic goal for ending the war, while the special envoy for the war in Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday that the goal is to stop the conflict in '100 days'.
ZELENSKYY PROPOSES EXCHANGE INVOLVING NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS: The President of Ukraine is ready to hand over two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russia.
Moreover, when prisoners are asked about returning to North Korea in the video of the interrogation shared by Zelensky, one replies that he would like to return, while the other wishes to stay in Ukraine.
DOG OF WAR:
Today’s Dog of War is Helios, a pup from State’s Emergencies Service station. He almost knocked Nastia down as she was about to leave, but with permission from the head of station, he posed for a couple of photos.
Stay safe out there.
Best,
Yelyzaveta
Thanks for this information and sweet dog picture. And a very special thanks to the Ukranian firefighters!!
How ironic (or maybe, not) that the people of Canada, Mexico and now Ukraine, seem to care more for those suffering in LA than the incoming administration. I know a couple, for years, who now live in LA . They tell me they are fine - they are in a condo in Century City surrounded by concrete and tall buildings, but I am still worried. I pray that they are right.