Ukraine Maternal Deaths Rise Over 33% From 2023 to 2024 as War Strains Pregnant Women
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 1
Ukraine Maternal Deaths Rise Over 33% From 2023 to 2024 as War Strains Pregnant Women
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 1
Summary
More than a one-third increase in maternal mortality was recorded in Ukraine from 2023 to 2024, according to WHO-compiled data cited by the United Nations.
U.N. agencies linked the rise to attacks on health facilities, repeated displacement, bombardment-related stress and power blackouts that have disrupted pregnancy and childbirth care.
More than 40 women and over a dozen Ukrainian doctors interviewed described miscarriages, fear during pregnancy and births carried out under the threat of Russian strikes.
Kharkiv resident Inna Slavhorodska said she miscarried after fleeing the 2022 invasion, then later delivered by C-section in January before drones hit her hospital the next day.
The figures underscore a widening civilian health cost of Russia's full-scale invasion, now extending beyond battlefield casualties into maternal care and newborn safety.
Is the maternal health crisis in Ukraine a tragic byproduct of war or a deliberate humanitarian catastrophe?
How is the war impacting the health of a Ukrainian generation before they are even born?
War’s Toll on Ukraine: Maternal Deaths Soar and Births Plummet Amid Health System Collapse
Overview
Between 2023 and 2024, maternal health in Ukraine has sharply worsened, with pregnant women facing rising risks and more life-threatening complications. This crisis is driven by the ongoing conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Constant bombings, displacement, and blackouts have put immense stress on both women and the healthcare system, making it harder to provide safe care. As a result, more women are at risk of dying, and serious health issues for mothers and babies have increased. The situation highlights the urgent need for protection and support for maternal health in Ukraine.