In March 2026, the situation in Ukraine’s humanitarian healthcare sector remained tense. Massive attacks, a rise in the number of wounded civilians, damage to energy infrastructure and difficulties in accessing medical services placed an increased burden on hospitals, mobile teams and humanitarian organisations. According to Health Cluster Ukraine, the number of airstrikes and drone attacks rose significantly in March, whilst the healthcare system continued to operate under constant threat.
ukraine_hc-bulletin-march-2026_v2March was one of the worst months in terms of the number of attacks
Ukraine has seen an escalation in air strikes compared to the first two months of the year. In March alone, over 3,500 air and drone strikes were recorded. Between 23 and 24 March, 948 drones were launched in a single day. This is the highest figure since the start of the full-scale war.
At the same time, the number of civilian casualties has risen sharply. In March, 211 people were killed and a further 1,206 were wounded. This is 49% more than in the previous month. The current level of casualties is the highest since July 2025.
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Attacks on the healthcare sector have been ongoing for the fourth year running
The World Health Organisation has confirmed 42 attacks on the healthcare system in March alone. These included an attack on a clearly marked vehicle belonging to a humanitarian partner’s mobile medical team operating near the front line.
In another incident, an FPV drone attacked an evacuation minibus in the Donetsk region. Two people were killed and two others were injured. Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, 2,893 attacks on the medical sector have been recorded.
Almost 4.5 million people are in need of medical care
As of the end of March, humanitarian needs in the health sector affected 4.47 million people. Following a review of the response plan, the target group for assistance stands at 1.47 million people. Practical support has been provided to 328,000 people. The sector requires $90 million to operate.
Partners supported 1,272 healthcare facilities across the country. A total of 83 organisations were involved in the reporting process.
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The most pressing issues are medicines, services and mental health
Access to medicines in frontline and hard-to-reach areas remains one of the main challenges. According to a WHO Health Tracker survey, 70% of respondents needed medicines, and 89% of them faced difficulties in obtaining them. One in ten people were unable to obtain the medicines they needed at all.
The main reasons were the high cost of medicines, shortages in pharmacies, the unavailability of certain items, and problems with prescription medicines.
The situation regarding access to healthcare services also remains difficult. In vulnerable regions, 74% of people reported difficulties with primary healthcare. Some patients are forced to wait in queues even after booking an appointment with a GP. In frontline areas, surgical and specialist care is provided unevenly.
Mental health presents a particular challenge. According to IOM estimates, 38% of the population are at high risk of depression, and in frontline areas this figure rises to 43%. Among internally displaced persons, the risk affects around half of those surveyed.
Rehabilitation is not keeping pace with the scale of the injuries
Medical facilities in conflict zones continue to receive large numbers of injured people. The new nature of the attacks is resulting in complex injuries: multiple traumas, burns, amputations, and brain and spinal cord injuries.
The need for rehabilitation is growing faster than the availability of services. In some areas, people face waiting times of up to three months, a shortage of specialists and a lack of awareness regarding free treatment options.
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How did humanitarian partners respond?
In March, dozens of organisations continued their work through mobile clinics, evacuation services, medicine supplies and hospital support. Project HOPE alone provided over 61,000 consultations through 42 mobile medical teams. The IRC provided over 26,000 consultations across five regions. UK-MED provided over 1,300 consultations in the Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The winter response campaign reached 66,017 people. This represents 67% of the planned target.
Forecast for 2026
ACAPS analysts have identified three possible scenarios: a continuation of the war, a partial de-escalation, or a new escalation. In each scenario, significant risks to the healthcare system remain. Infrastructure damage, staffing pressures and cuts in international funding could widen the gap between the population’s needs and the actual assistance provided, particularly near the front line.
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