According to the World Health Organization (WHO), attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure rose sharply in 2025, with nearly a 20 % increase in documented incidents compared with the previous year. This escalation occurred as Ukraine entered the fifth year of its full‑scale war, leaving health services and civilian well‑being under unprecedented strain. (World Health Organization)
The WHO’s global “Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care” recorded at least 2,881 attacks on health facilities, ambulances, medical warehouses, and health personnel throughout 2025. These incidents included shelling, missile strikes, and other assaults that directly impacted medical infrastructure designed to treat the sick and wounded. (World Health Organization)
Beyond the direct damage to hospitals and clinics, the broader consequences of war‑related strikes on essential civilian infrastructure — such as power plants and water systems — have compounded the crisis. According to a WHO assessment conducted in December 2025, 59 % of people living in frontline areas reported their health as poor or very poor, compared with 47 % in less contested regions. (vijesti.me)
The humanitarian fallout from these attacks is severe: patients discharged from hospitals — including new mothers, trauma survivors, and those recovering from surgeries — often return to homes without heating, electricity, or running water. This undermines clinical progress and turns physical recovery into a daily battle for survival in freezing conditions. (World Health Organization)
The conflict has also sharply increased demand for critical medical services, including surgery, trauma care, infection control, blood products, rehabilitation, and mental health support. Yet access to rehabilitation remains extremely limited, with only a small fraction of hospitals providing inpatient rehabilitation or assistive devices such as prosthetics. Furthermore, four out of five Ukrainians report difficulties accessing essential medicines — primarily due to high costs and disrupted supply chains. (World Health Organization)
WHO has responded by expanding support across Ukraine, delivering medical supplies, equipment, and training — and prioritizing frontline and hard‑to‑reach locations. In 2025 alone, WHO assistance reached nearly 1.9 million people, and the agency provided hundreds of generators to keep health facilities operational despite power shortages and infrastructure damage. (vijesti.me)
WHO and humanitarian partners continue to appeal for funding to maintain essential health services and protect access to care for vulnerable populations throughout Ukraine. Experts emphasize that the continuing violence against healthcare systems deepens suffering and underscores the urgent need for ceasefire and peace negotiations. (vijesti.me)