A Dutch foundation has unveiled plans to construct what is anticipated to be Ukraine’s largest underground hospital, strategically positioned near the front line. This facility is designed to offer emergency medical care while safeguarding patients and medical personnel against drone and artillery assaults. Encompassing roughly 600 square meters, the hospital will be situated about 8 meters below ground. Its reinforced concrete structure is intended to endure heavy bombardments. The hospital will feature six operating rooms dedicated to urgent trauma care, including surgical procedures for shrapnel wounds and blood transfusions.
Rather than serving as a permanent hospital, this underground facility will function as a stabilization center. It will enable critically injured soldiers to undergo immediate surgeries before they are transferred to hospitals located further from the front. The exact site of the hospital remains undisclosed for security purposes. Preparations for construction have commenced, with the hospital slated to open by February 2027.
The project, initiated at the request of Ukraine’s Military Medical Service, is being executed with the backing of a Norwegian healthcare foundation. The estimated cost of the underground hospital is €2 million, while an additional €500,000 will be necessary for medical equipment, supplies, and armored evacuation vehicles. The overall cost of the project is expected to reach €2.5 million. So far, the foundation has successfully raised €750,000 and is actively seeking another €1.75 million to meet the total funding requirement.
Project organizers emphasize the increasing importance of protected medical facilities close to combat zones, particularly given the prevalent use of drones near battlefields. Conventional evacuation methods have become progressively perilous, underscoring the need for this innovative hospital solution to ensure the safety and swift treatment of wounded soldiers.