#I want everyone to shut up immediately about russia not attacking hospitals and health care workers

[jacensolodjo]

A report has been published on the overarching effects of russia attacking ukrainian power infrastructure, especially in winter. As well as medical facilities.

An excerpt:

Before the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022, Ukraine boasted one of the most developed power sectors in Europe, with universal access to electricity. However, by June 2024, available capacity had plummeted by 85 percent due to Russia’s systematic attacks on energy infrastructure. Russia has blocked gas transit to Ukraine, seized assets, launched cyberattacks, and, since October 2022, systematically bombed Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. By September 2024, Russia had allegedly destroyed all thermal power plants and nearly all large hydroelectric power plants.

Data collected by TH and PHR since the start of the full-scale invasion shows that the cumulative impacts of Russia’s direct attacks on health facilities, as well as strikes on energy infrastructure with reported impact on health care facilities, have impeded health care delivery and endangered patients and health care workers alike. For example, since the start of the full-scale invasion, health care workers and patients at the Okhmatdyt National Specialized Children’s Hospital have faced multiple attacks that have caused death and suffering. Airstrikes shattered its windows in March 2022, forcing vulnerable patients, including terminally ill and immunocompromised children, to be treated underground despite the grave health risks of doing so. On October 10, 2022 – the day that Russia began its large-scale aerial assault on Ukrainian energy infrastructure – a missile strike killed one of Okhmatdyt’s doctors as she drove to work. In the months that followed, frequent power outages lasting up to several days resulted in lights shutting off in all departments but intensive care. The energy cuts jeopardized patient health by interrupting or delaying surgeries; forcing surgeons to operate in darkness illuminated only by headlamps; discontinuing flow of water to the hospital, creating unhygienic conditions; and rendering diagnostic and treatment equipment unusable.

A survey of 2,261 health care workers conducted as part of this research project indicates that the experiences of clinicians in Mariupol and Okhmatdyt hospitals are far from unique. Key findings from the survey include: 

The overwhelming majority (92.3 percent) of health care workers report experiencing power outages at their health facility as a result of attacks on energy infrastructure.

Two-thirds of health care workers (66.3 percent) reported that power outages due to attacks on energy infrastructure affected medical procedures in their facilities.

Specifically, 8.4 percent noted delays in elective surgeries, 1.7 percent experienced interruptions during surgery, and 1.8 percent reported failures in life support systems due to outages.

Outages disrupted communication systems (35.7 percent), water supply (21.5 percent), heating and ventilation (19 percent), and elevators (16.5 percent).

7.8 percent of respondents noted malfunctions in diagnostic equipment, such as X-ray machines and MRIs due to outages. Medication storage issues, leading to spoilage, were reported by 13.8 percent, and 3.6 percent informed about problems with storing biological samples like blood or embryos.

Permanent health harms (36 reports) and deaths (20 reports) were also reported.  

82.9 percent of health workers experienced increased stress, burnout, and other challenges due to these attacks on energy infrastructure and disruption of services, with 27 percent facing these hardships daily.