Number of Russian attacks on Ukraine's healthcare system is "highest ever", WHO reports

This information is stated on the WHO's official website.

Since December 2023, attacks on Ukraine’s medical infrastructure have occurred almost daily. 

"For over 2.5 years now, 86% of all such attacks have impacted health facilities, with a significant proportion of such attacks involving heavy weapons," the organization reported.

The WHO stressed that the 1,940 attacks on Ukraine's healthcare system represent the highest number it has ever recorded in any humanitarian emergency worldwide.

According to the organization, 42% of all attacks on Ukraine's healthcare system since 2022 have targeted primary healthcare facilities. However, in 2024, the majority of injuries and deaths occurred in secondary healthcare, with one in five incidents resulting in casualties.

“In 2024, we are observing a lot of double-tap attacks. Now we have more shelling of civilian infrastructure than before. We are losing colleagues – health-care workers, nurses, doctors, paramedics. This year, many more health-care workers have also been injured than before. According to WHO data, first responders and health transportation are 3 times more likely to suffer harm from attacks compared to other health-care personnel,” said Dr. Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.

The report states that last year, 24 deaths among health workers and patients were documented, but during the first 7.5 months of 2024, a total of 34 people have died from attacks on healthcare. The number of injured this year has also surpassed the figures for 2023 and 2022, already amounting to 229 people.

"In sum, every fourth attack on healthcare this year has resulted in injuries," the WHO noted.

• On 8 July, Russians targeted the toxicology department of the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv, where patients were receiving dialysis. It was established that Russia attacked the building with a Kh-101 missile.

• On August 9, Conflict Armament Research (CAR) found that the missile that hit the Okhmatdyt children's hospital on July 8 was manufactured in Russia only a few weeks, perhaps even a few days, before the attack.