The Russian invasion of Ukraine is one of the most devastating crises in recent history. Data from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights shows that the war led to the displacement of over four million Ukrainian citizens as of 30 March, along with at least 3167 civilian casualties, including 1232 deaths.1 The material damages sustained by Ukraine cannot be immediately replaced, but the most affecting and irreparable loss has been that of life.

The war has ushered in an era of challenges for Ukrainian residents; chief among them will be the limited access to healthcare. Nearly 1000 health facilities are located near conflict zones, with 82 confirmed attacks on these facilities.2 The impact of the war on Ukrainian health can be studied most directly through the report of physical injuries, casualties and deaths resulting from the violence, but it will be tantamount to consider the mental health impacts of these events as well. Previous studies have highlighted the immense physical and mental health burden introduced by armed conflicts. Furthermore, deteriorating living conditions and damaged critical infrastructure could leave 1.4 million people in Ukraine without adequate access to safe water and sanitation. This has the potential to create a breeding ground for future disease outbreaks.

Many Ukrainian residents were turned into refugees, which may lead to poor living conditions and overcrowding, increasing the risk of infectious outbreaks.1 The troubles of armed conflicts are made worse in the context of a continuing global pandemic as there is an increasing risk of a COVID-19 surge in local communities and neighbouring countries resulting from the disruption to health and safety practices. Perhaps when assessing the devastations of the war, we must also evaluate the public health consequences that lie ahead.

The Ukrainian crisis has appropriately garnered global attention. Several …