A Dutch foundation has unveiled plans to construct what is set to be Ukraine’s largest underground hospital, strategically located near the front line to ensure the safety of patients and medical personnel from drone and artillery strikes. The hospital will span approximately 600 square meters and will be built about 8 meters underground using reinforced concrete, designed to endure severe attacks. It will feature six operating rooms dedicated to urgent trauma care, including surgeries for shrapnel wounds and blood transfusions.
Functioning primarily as a stabilization center rather than a long-term care facility, this underground hospital will provide immediate surgical intervention for critically injured soldiers before they are transferred to hospitals situated further from the conflict zone. For security reasons, the exact location of the hospital remains undisclosed. Preparations for its construction are already in progress, with an anticipated opening date set for February 2027.
This initiative comes at the request of Ukraine’s Military Medical Service and is being executed with the backing of a Norwegian healthcare foundation. The estimated cost for the underground complex alone is €2 million, while additional expenses for medical equipment, supplies, and armored evacuation vehicles are projected to be around €500,000. Consequently, the total projected cost for the entire project is expected to reach €2.5 million. Thus far, the foundation has raised approximately €750,000 and is actively seeking an additional €1.75 million to meet its financial goals.
Project leaders have emphasized the increasing danger posed by the widespread use of drones on the battlefield, which has complicated traditional evacuation methods. This has underscored the urgent need for protected medical facilities in close proximity to combat zones, ensuring rapid response and treatment for those injured in the conflict.