A Dutch foundation is spearheading an ambitious initiative to construct Ukraine’s largest underground hospital near the front line. This innovative facility is specifically designed to offer emergency medical treatment while ensuring the safety of patients and medical staff from potential drone and artillery attacks. The hospital will span approximately 600 square meters and will be situated about 8 meters underground. Its reinforced-concrete structure is engineered to endure heavy bombardments.
The underground hospital is set to feature six operating rooms dedicated to urgent trauma care, such as surgeries for shrapnel injuries and blood transfusions. It will function primarily as a stabilization center rather than a long-term care facility, enabling critically injured soldiers to receive immediate treatment before being transported to hospitals located farther from the front lines. To maintain security, the precise location of the facility is being kept confidential. Construction preparations are underway, with the opening anticipated in February 2027.
This project comes at the request of Ukraine’s Military Medical Service and is being executed with assistance from a Norwegian healthcare foundation. The estimated cost of constructing the underground complex is €2 million. Additionally, another €500,000 will be required for medical equipment, supplies, and armored evacuation vehicles, bringing the total project expenditure to an estimated €2.5 million. Currently, the foundation has successfully raised approximately €750,000 and is actively seeking an additional €1.75 million to meet its financial goals.
Organizers of the project emphasize the critical need for protected medical facilities close to combat zones, particularly in light of the prevalent use of drones on the battlefield, which has rendered traditional evacuation methods increasingly perilous. The establishment of such a facility is expected to play a vital role in enhancing the medical care infrastructure in conflict-affected areas, ensuring that urgent medical attention is promptly available to those in need.
