[Editorial] Health on the front line: 4 years of war in Ukraine

00:00 - 21 Feb 2026

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been a catastrophe on every level, not least for health. 4 years on, there have been more than 47 000 Ukrainian civilian casualties. 5·6 million people have fled abroad and 3·8 million have been internally displaced, interrupting provision of health care. The deliberate targeting of health facilities and their associated infrastructure has been a core part of Russia's military strategy. 2591 such attacks have been recorded since February, 2022, and their frequency is growing—clear violations of international law that are becoming increasingly normalised.