Kyiv/ New York, 1 April 2026 — On 31 March, attacks on Sloviansk City damaged a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supported maternity hospital, marking the sixth time this year that a UNFPA-supported health facility in Ukraine has been damaged. A previous strike on Odesa on 28 March damaged another maternity hospital supported by UNFPA, placing dozens of patients, newborns and medical staff at risk.
The latest strikes bring the number of Ukraine’s healthcare facilities attacked since the start of the full-scale invasion, to nearly 3,000, underscoring the extreme pressures faced by healthcare staff. “Attacks on maternity hospitals are abhorrent and violate international humanitarian law,” said Jacqueline Mahon, UNFPA Representative to Ukraine. “The consequences are devastating for the whole population, with doctors reporting rising childbirth complications linked to severe stress, alongside profound mental health impacts.”
The 28 March attack damaged Odesa Maternity Hospital No. 5, where 32 patients, 22 newborns and 27 medical workers were present. All were evacuated in time and no injuries were reported. UNFPA supports Odesa Maternity Hospital No. 5 with life-saving pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. The agency also supports a dedicated space within the hospital that ensures equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services, including women facing financial barriers and persons with disabilities. In addition, UNFPA provides kits for pregnant and lactating women.
Just three days prior, on 24 March, another maternity hospital in the Kharkiv region was damaged during an attack, injuring patients, while maternity facilities supported by UNFPA at Ivano-Frankivsk Hospital were damaged, killing two people.
Healthcare forced underground
Following the Odesa attack on March 28, twins with low body weight who were receiving artificial ventilation were among those transferred to a bomb shelter. Equipped with mobile incubators and newborn resuscitation equipment supported by UNFPA, the bunkerized shelter enabled medical staff to continue life-saving care for the twins. Postoperative patients were also cared for in the shelter’s intensive care unit. The same attack also damaged a UNFPA-supported centre serving survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, where operations have now been paused until further notice.
UNFPA has supported the Government of Ukraine to establish three fortified underground maternity facilities across the country and, with the support of partners, is scaling up the development of more bunkerized maternity hospitals in frontline areas to support safe childbirth. The next new bunkerized maternity ward, supported by the Government of Ireland, is set to open in Kharkiv in the coming days, providing a protected space for women to give birth safely even during active hostilities.
“Ukrainian hospitals continue to operate under extraordinary strain, with health workers showing remarkable ingenuity to keep services running under attack,” said Mahon. “But resilience alone is not enough. Sustained international investment is critical to protect essential health infrastructure and ensure women can give birth safely. The opening of the new bunkerized maternity ward in Kharkiv is a powerful example of what targeted investment can achieve — and how urgently it must be scaled up.”
Media Contacts
- New York: Zina Alam zialam@unfpa.org; media@unfpa.org
- Kyiv: Isaac Hurskin hurskin@unfpa.org
About UNFPA
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to uphold the rights and choices of women, girls and young people across more than 150 countries and territories. It reaches millions of women, girls and young people with essential health services, protection from violence, and vital information about their bodies and rights. It also helps governments plan for changing demographics, to build inclusive and resilient societies.
