Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine
Abstract Background Although the Geneva Conventions and Rome Statute demand protections for healthcare facilities during war, breaches of these protections are frequently reported. The ongoing war in Ukraine is no exception, with several healthcare attacks eliciting widespread condemnation. The Ukra...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Conflict and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-023-00557-2 |
| _version_ | 1797397967536128000 |
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| author | Dennis G. Barten Derrick Tin Fredrik Granholm Diana Rusnak Frits van Osch Gregory Ciottone |
| author_facet | Dennis G. Barten Derrick Tin Fredrik Granholm Diana Rusnak Frits van Osch Gregory Ciottone |
| author_sort | Dennis G. Barten |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although the Geneva Conventions and Rome Statute demand protections for healthcare facilities during war, breaches of these protections are frequently reported. The ongoing war in Ukraine is no exception, with several healthcare attacks eliciting widespread condemnation. The Ukrainian Healthcare Center (UHC) has been collecting, verifying and documenting attacks on health infrastructure since the Russia–Ukraine War was launched. The aim of this study was to assess UHC documented healthcare facility attacks during the first year (24 February 2022 to 25 February 2023) of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Methods The Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations was used to document healthcare attacks. Data collection included temporal factors, location, facility type, attack and weapon type, number of killed and injured healthcare personnel and civilians, and whether facilities were damaged, destroyed or attacked more than once. Results There were 334 documented attacks on 267 Ukrainian healthcare facilities, with 230 facilities being damaged and 37 destroyed. General hospitals, primary care clinics, emergency departments and children’s hospitals were most frequently targeted. The majority of attacks took place during the first three months and in eastern Ukrainian oblasts. Heavy weaponry was employed in almost all attacks. The total number of casualties included 97 fatalities and 114 injuries. Conclusions During the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were 334 attacks on 267 Ukrainian healthcare facilities documented by the UHC. Heavy weaponry was commonly used, and the direct impact of attacks was considerable in terms of facility damage and casualty tolls. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:17:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc56ae64b7e949e195b6016f0da6968a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:17:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc56ae64b7e949e195b6016f0da6968a2023-12-10T12:21:03ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052023-12-011711710.1186/s13031-023-00557-2Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of UkraineDennis G. Barten0Derrick Tin1Fredrik Granholm2Diana Rusnak3Frits van Osch4Gregory Ciottone5Department of Emergency Medicine, VieCuri Medical CenterDisaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolSwedish Air Ambulance (SLA)Ukrainian Healthcare CenterDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, VieCuri Medical CenterDisaster Medicine Fellowship, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolAbstract Background Although the Geneva Conventions and Rome Statute demand protections for healthcare facilities during war, breaches of these protections are frequently reported. The ongoing war in Ukraine is no exception, with several healthcare attacks eliciting widespread condemnation. The Ukrainian Healthcare Center (UHC) has been collecting, verifying and documenting attacks on health infrastructure since the Russia–Ukraine War was launched. The aim of this study was to assess UHC documented healthcare facility attacks during the first year (24 February 2022 to 25 February 2023) of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Methods The Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations was used to document healthcare attacks. Data collection included temporal factors, location, facility type, attack and weapon type, number of killed and injured healthcare personnel and civilians, and whether facilities were damaged, destroyed or attacked more than once. Results There were 334 documented attacks on 267 Ukrainian healthcare facilities, with 230 facilities being damaged and 37 destroyed. General hospitals, primary care clinics, emergency departments and children’s hospitals were most frequently targeted. The majority of attacks took place during the first three months and in eastern Ukrainian oblasts. Heavy weaponry was employed in almost all attacks. The total number of casualties included 97 fatalities and 114 injuries. Conclusions During the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were 334 attacks on 267 Ukrainian healthcare facilities documented by the UHC. Heavy weaponry was commonly used, and the direct impact of attacks was considerable in terms of facility damage and casualty tolls.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-023-00557-2Counter-terrorism medicineHealthcare attacksHybrid warfareConflictRussia–Ukraine War |
| spellingShingle | Dennis G. Barten Derrick Tin Fredrik Granholm Diana Rusnak Frits van Osch Gregory Ciottone Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine Conflict and Health Counter-terrorism medicine Healthcare attacks Hybrid warfare Conflict Russia–Ukraine War |
| title | Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| title_full | Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| title_fullStr | Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| title_short | Attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| title_sort | attacks on ukrainian healthcare facilities during the first year of the full scale russian invasion of ukraine |
| topic | Counter-terrorism medicine Healthcare attacks Hybrid warfare Conflict Russia–Ukraine War |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-023-00557-2 |
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