Three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the country’s healthcare system is facing an unprecedented crisis. The war has brought widespread destruction, attacking medical facilities, exhausting healthcare workers, and raising the risk of disease outbreaks. The system, once operating under reforms to improve care, is now struggling to keep up with the pressing needs of the population.
Attacks on Hospitals Make Healthcare Harder to Access
On July 8, 2023, Dr. Lesia Lysytsia was preparing for eye cancer surgery at Okhmatdyt, Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital, when the sirens blared, signaling a potential Russian airstrike. Despite the warning, Lysytsia chose to stay and continue her work. “If doctors stopped working every time an alarm went off, we’d never be able to treat our patients,” she said. Lysytsia had to balance the urgency of medical care with the responsibility of being a mother to two young children at home.
The decision was a difficult one. Just hours after the surgery began, a missile struck Okhmatdyt, killing three people and injuring dozens. Around 630 children were in the hospital at the time of the explosion. Despite this tragic incident, Kyiv managed to partially reopen Okhmatdyt just a week later, and the hospital is now mostly operational. However, the emotional toll on medical staff remains high, and Lysytsia notes that while they’ve adapted to this new reality, the cost has been significant. “We’ve changed mentally,” she said, “But because we have a responsibility to others, we don’t show it.”
Challenges of Treating Patients Under Fire
The healthcare system in Ukraine was not prepared for the full-scale war that began in February 2022. Experts agree that no healthcare system in the world could handle the chaos of a war of this magnitude. The war has displaced millions, and the UN reports that Ukraine’s population has dropped by over 10 million people due to the conflict.
Eric Adrien, who coordinates medical evacuations for the European Commission, pointed out that no country’s healthcare system is equipped for the strains caused by full-scale war. “Doctors are learning to operate under constant danger,” Adrien said. They are performing amputations, working without electricity, and dealing with the psychological toll of continuous threats.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended Ukraine’s resilience in the face of these challenges. Reforms in 2017 modernized the healthcare system, expanding access to treatment and reducing corruption. While these improvements have helped Ukraine cope with the war, disparities remain. The regions closest to the frontlines are facing the greatest struggles. Areas in the east, such as Donetsk and Luhansk, have limited access to healthcare, and the situation is worsening.
Hospital Attacks and the Impact on Care
The war has severely affected medical facilities. According to Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), Russian forces have attacked over 1,760 hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and medical workers since the invasion. The WHO reports that the actual number may be even higher. These attacks are happening at an alarming rate — an average of 1.6 attacks per day. Human rights groups argue that these attacks could be considered war crimes, though the Kremlin denies deliberately targeting civilians.
The damage to hospitals is not limited to physical structures. Ongoing strikes have destroyed medical equipment, making it harder for healthcare workers to perform even basic procedures. The attacks on Okhmatdyt and other hospitals have left many without access to vital care. Just hours after high-level diplomatic talks aimed at ending the war, another missile strike hit a children’s clinic in Odesa, Ukraine’s third-largest city, leaving it in ruins.
The situation is even more dire for those who were already vulnerable before the war. Inna Ivanenko, the executive director of Patients of Ukraine, an advocacy group representing millions with chronic conditions, pointed out that a children’s clinic in Odesa was one of the best in the country before the strike. “And just in one night, we don’t have it,” she said.
Rising Disease Risks Signal a Collapsing Healthcare System
Ukraine is also facing a rising risk of disease outbreaks. The war has disrupted essential health services, and experts warn that the risks of measles, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, and HIV are growing. The situation is especially grim in war-torn regions like Donetsk and Luhansk. The WHO’s 2024 analysis confirmed that Ukraine faces “high” risks of infectious diseases, with tuberculosis rates surging in the past two years. The country is now one of the top 30 nations with high rates of drug-resistant TB, complicating efforts to treat the disease.
Mental health conditions are also at a crisis level. Over 30 percent of Ukrainian households report severe psychological stress, a result of the ongoing violence and displacement. According to Halyna Skipalska, CEO of the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health, untreated mental health issues can lead to depression, suicide, and eating disorders, particularly among adolescents.
Healthcare Workers Face Exhaustion and Shortages
Ukraine’s healthcare workers are under immense pressure. Many doctors have left the country, while others have retired, joined the military, or tragically lost their lives. Since the war began, 262 medical workers have been killed. This has led to a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in frontline areas. While cities like Kyiv still have enough doctors, rural areas and regions closer to the frontlines are facing a crisis in staffing.
Nurses, who were already in short supply before the war, are even scarcer now. Many nurses have moved abroad to work in less dangerous conditions, leaving Ukrainian hospitals understaffed. The shortage is further exacerbated by the fact that the healthcare system relies heavily on international funding to keep operating.
Despite these challenges, the healthcare system in Ukraine has shown remarkable resilience. While the future remains uncertain, many healthcare workers continue to work tirelessly under dangerous conditions. “The healthcare system has survived,” said Ivanenko, “That means its foundation is strong enough.”
This article was published in Wallstreet Storys.
