On September 28, the Russian military carried out another brutal attack that has become a symbol of its ruthless tactics of waging war against Ukraine. A hospital in Sumy was attacked twice, resulting in the death and injury of civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure. Debris removal continues, and unfortunately, the death toll will only continue to rise. At the moment, seven dead and 12 seriously wounded are known, among them patients and medical staff.
The first shelling of the hospital resulted in the death of one person and the collapse of several floors of the building, forcing the evacuation of 86 patients, including 15 patients with low mobility, and 38 hospital employees. Rescuers and police arrived at the scene of the tragedy to help the victims, but during the evacuation of patients, a second strike followed, causing more casualties.
The tactic of repeated strikes is the deliberate use of a double strike strategy to maximize damage and intimidate the civilian population. This is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on civilian objects and requires the protection of medical facilities and workers. Attacks on hospitals are not only a demonstration of the aggressor’s immorality, but also a serious threat to the entire Ukrainian medical system, which is already under unprecedented pressure.
Due to the war, the Ukrainian medical system is experiencing unprecedented challenges. Medical facilities, especially in war zones, are suffering significant damage. Many hospitals lack the equipment, medicines and staff to provide the necessary care. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, maternity hospitals, outpatient clinics, and polyclinics. More than 1,800 medical facilities have been damaged, over 200 of them completely destroyed. Medical facilities in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Mykolayiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya and Sumy regions suffered the most damage.
These actions are aimed not only at destroying infrastructure, but also at creating an atmosphere of fear among the population. Attacks on medical facilities have far-reaching consequences for the health of the nation and are aimed at undermining Ukraine’s ability to provide medical care to its citizens. The Ukrainian people are already experiencing terrible humanitarian consequences: a mental health crisis, an increase in trauma, injuries, and the spread of infectious diseases due to deteriorating living conditions in the occupied and frontline territories.
Despite all the challenges, the Ukrainian medical system continues to function, and doctors and nurses continue to save lives. This heroism deserves the respect and support of the entire world. We must remember the victims and do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice and ensure a peaceful future for Ukraine.
The international community must increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia to stop attacks on Ukrainian medical facilities that are vital to providing medical care to civilians. Support for Ukraine’s medical system, which is operating under unprecedented challenges, must also be increased to ensure its ability to respond to the needs of the population and save the lives of those affected.
Ukraine needs not only condemnation of Russian aggression, but also tangible international support to strengthen its defense capabilities. It is important to support Ukraine in its legitimate right to defend itself, including the use of long-range weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory. This is consistent with the principles of the Victory Plan recently presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the UN Security Council for consideration by the United States and other partners. This plan is based on UN statutes and norms that grant Ukraine the right to self-defense and restoration of territorial integrity. International partners should support Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor to prevent further tragedies and stop the aggressor from advancing further.