By: Kingsley Oyong Akam
As Ukraine marks the fifth year of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, the nation’s healthcare system remains severely overstretched and overstrained, with maternal and newborn health services reaching critical levels, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Since the invasion began, there have been over 2,700 attacks on healthcare facilities across the country. These attacks, combined with relentless strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, have resulted in widespread damage to hospitals, the destruction of essential medical equipment and supplies, and placed healthcare workers in grave danger.
The toll on maternal and newborn health is particularly alarming. UNFPA reports that premature birth rates have spiked dramatically, reaching twice the national average in front-line areas. Furthermore, life-threatening complications such as uterine rupture and hypertension are on the rise, putting the lives of mothers and infants at significant risk.
In response to this escalating crisis, UNFPA continues to provide critical support to Ukraine’s maternal health systems. Their efforts include the delivery of essential health supplies, the fortification of hospitals to withstand attacks, and crucial support for the country’s overstrained health workers, including its dedicated network of midwives.
Footage released by UNFPA, filmed in December 2025, illustrates the stark reality on the ground. In Kharkiv, medics are seen performing ultrasounds and emergency cesarean sections. In the Sumy region, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) operates next to a boarded-up window, a stark symbol of the war’s proximity. Elsewhere, community health centres continue to provide gynaecological care and family planning services amidst the ongoing conflict, demonstrating the resilience of both patients and healthcare providers.
Credit: UNFPA
For media inquiries, please contact the United Nations Population Fund.
