Hospitals and ambulances in Ukraine are increasingly targeted by Russian drone and missile attacks, despite international rules of war requiring their protection. The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented 3,118 attacks on healthcare since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, averaging two incidents per day.
The number of attacks on healthcare has risen consistently since 2023, with a 30% increase in 2024 and a further 20% rise last year. This trend is anticipated to continue throughout the current year. A recent report by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) suggests that Russian forces systematically target Ukrainian medical facilities.
First-person view (FPV) drone strikes are almost always intentional, according to Robin Meldrum, MSF country coordinator in Ukraine. Strikes on ambulances make up 20% of all attacks on Ukraine's healthcare system. This suggests these attacks are part of a calculated strategy, according to the WHO.
The sustained attacks mean that civilians near the frontline are increasingly cut off from health services. Mobile clinics have had to move further from the frontline as the danger zone for FPV drones expands. MSF has stopped regular visits to approximately 80 villages near the front and recently paused ambulance services in Sloviansk.