Surgeons Help Heal Ukraine

After decades of relative peace throughout Europe, on February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the conflict that began many years ago. 

The invasion brought a return to so-called conventional warfare on the European continent, involving injury and death on a large scale across several fronts. Considered a humanitarian crisis, the war—almost a year later—remains a struggle for the people and warfighters of Ukraine to provide medical care because of displacement, disruptions, and destruction of healthcare infrastructure and capacity.

Against a backdrop of risk to personal safety and ongoing violence, several ACS members traveled to Ukraine, offering patient care for the injured, education for Ukrainian colleagues and care teams, and support for its citizens. In an uncertain, constantly evolving wartime situation, surgeons continue to exemplify the humanitarian spirit that is core to the College’s ethos. In this series of articles, the surgeons describe their personal experiences.