Healthcare infrastructure in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine has experienced severe degradation, according to accounts from medical workers and residents. The district hospital in Hola Prystan, located in occupied Kherson, exemplifies the crisis facing civilian populations. Equipment and supplies have been removed from facilities, with much of the material redirected for military purposes. Power cuts lasting multiple hours have left hospitals operating in darkness, while experienced medical personnel have fled to Ukrainian-held areas.
The deteriorating conditions have created dangerous situations for patients requiring emergency care. Medical professionals report inability to perform routine surgical procedures due to lack of supplies and equipment. In documented cases, childbirth complications have gone undiagnosed due to absence of diagnostic equipment, forcing emergency procedures to be conducted under severely constrained circumstances. Patients undergoing medical treatment have had procedures performed without anesthesia or adequate lighting, with providers resorting to using phone flashlights during operations.
Access to medical care has been further restricted through administrative measures. Individuals lacking Russian mandatory health insurance policies—obtainable only through Russian passports—have been denied or limited in accessing medical services. Curfews and security restrictions have prevented residents from reaching facilities during emergencies. According to UN monitoring, recent blockades and supply shortages in towns including Oleshky and Hola Prystan have left populations without food, water, and medicines.
These conditions have had particular impact on maternal and child health. Organizations monitoring the situation report anecdotal increases in maternal and child mortality rates, along with limited access to contraceptives and other reproductive health services. Medical workers document cases of severe trauma among women, including documented instances of sexual violence, for which psychological support and specialized medical care remain unavailable.
While comprehensive mortality statistics remain difficult to obtain, medical professionals working in these territories describe conditions as having become increasingly unbearable, with the capacity to provide even basic medical care severely compromised.
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