A Dutch foundation has unveiled plans to construct what is slated to be Ukraine’s largest underground hospital near the front lines, a strategic move designed to deliver emergency medical care while shielding patients and staff from drone and artillery attacks. The facility, which promises to be a critical asset in the conflict zone, will span approximately 600 square meters and be situated about 8 meters below the surface. Its reinforced concrete structure is engineered to endure severe bombardments.
Rather than serving as a permanent hospital, this underground complex will function as a stabilization center, providing rapid surgical interventions for severely wounded soldiers before they are transported to safer locations further from the combat zone. The facility will feature six operating rooms dedicated to urgent trauma surgeries, including procedures for shrapnel injuries and blood transfusions. To maintain security, the precise location of this facility is being kept confidential.
Construction preparations are underway, and the hospital is scheduled to open by February 2027. The initiative was initiated at the request of Ukraine’s Military Medical Service and is being supported by a Norwegian healthcare foundation. The cost of the construction itself is projected at €2 million, while another €500,000 will be needed for medical equipment, supplies, and armored evacuation vehicles, bringing the total estimated cost to €2.5 million. So far, the foundation has raised about €750,000 and is actively seeking an additional €1.75 million to complete the project.
With the increasing threat posed by drones near the battlefield, traditional evacuation methods have become perilous, underscoring the necessity for protected medical facilities close to combat zones. Project organizers emphasize that these challenges make the creation of such underground medical centers not only vital but urgent.