Ongoing Health Sector Strikes in Ukraine are Straining Care Delivery Amid Rising Winter Health Threats

Since 2022, 224 health workers and patients have been killed and 896 injured in verified attacks. Damage to facilities, compounded by insecurity and workforce fatigue, drives staff out of frontline and border regions, deepening critical workforce shortages.  

Direct attacks on infrastructure remain the most common threat, with more than three-quarters targeting health facilities and nearly one-quarter involving medical transport. Communities living near active hostilities experience prolonged delays or complete loss of access to care, and repeated strikes have forced many facilities to close or operate at minimal capacity.  

Recent attacks on pharmaceutical infrastructure have intensified these pressures. In December 2025, strikes in Dnipropetrovsk destroyed one of Ukraine’s largest medical warehouses. The facility served as a critical storage and distribution hub for chronic medications, ICU supplies, surgical equipment, and emergency care items. Its destruction has worsened shortages in frontline and hard-to-reach areas. These immediate effects collectively weaken emergency response capacity, delay lifesaving care, and heighten preventable morbidity and mortality across conflict-affected regions.   

Routine Care and Vaccination    

Preventive programs, including vaccination, have also been strained. While Ukraine has largely maintained childhood vaccination campaigns, coverage remains below pre-conflict targets. While some areas meet the WHO’s 95 percent threshold required for herd immunity, others fall short due to access barriers and local perceptions. Rising disease activity illustrates the impact: 1,377 measles cases were recorded in the first seven months of 2025, nine times higher compared to the same period in 2024.  

Chronic Disease and Mental Health    

Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, which accounted for 84 percent of deaths before the conflict, require consistent access to medications and specialist care. Facility closures, supply shortages, and rising treatment costs have made continuity of care increasingly difficult. By late 2024, 35 percent of people reported delaying care due to financial pressure. Many patients relocate when care becomes inaccessible, contributing further to displacement.  

Mental health needs have risen sharply; displacement, bereavement, and economic insecurity have created widespread psychological distress. Almost 60 percent of Ukrainians report anxiety and intense stress. Children are particularly vulnerable, with up to 1.5 million at risk of post-traumatic stress and other disorders.  

Vulnerable Populations    

The conflict disproportionately affects vulnerable groups. Maternal and neonatal care remains fragile; since 2022, more than 80 maternity and neonatal facilities have been damaged or destroyed nationwide. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that despite fewer births, severe pregnancy complications have increased.

Damage to energy and heating systems disrupts family homes and public facilities alike. Last winter, one in five households reported health issues linked to cold indoor temperatures. Many of Ukraine’s 3.76 million internally displaced populations (IDPs) live in crowded shelters or host communities with limited medical care and poor sanitation, increasing disease risk, including respiratory infections and hepatitis.   

Winter amplifies vulnerabilities created by conflict. Damaged power plants, heating systems, and water networks leave millions exposed to freezing temperatures at a time of peak energy demand. The WHO warns that up to 250,000 patients in frontline hospitals and maternity clinics could lack reliable heating or electricity this winter. Cold, damp wards raise the risk of respiratory infections and complicate care for conditions such as pneumonia or cardiovascular disease. Water interruptions undermine sanitation and infection control, while essential services such as dialysis, laboratory tests, and emergency surgeries become sporadic or inaccessible.    

Sustained attacks on energy infrastructure exacerbate these pressures. Power losses have reduced national electricity generation by roughly half and curtailed most natural gas production, leaving communities without reliable heating. Households already facing economic strain struggle with high fuel prices, irregular deliveries, and poorly insulated homes, often resorting to unsafe heating methods. For displaced individuals, older adults, and those with chronic conditions, the combination of freezing temperatures, power shortages, and damaged infrastructure creates an environment where preventable illness and mortality can rise quickly.  

Learn more about leveraging our industry-leading regional and medical experts for intelligence that helps your organization stay ahead of health risks to your people and operations.