A Dutch foundation has unveiled plans to construct what is being touted as Ukraine’s most extensive underground hospital near the front line. This facility aims to provide emergency medical care while ensuring the safety of patients and medical staff from drone and artillery fire. The underground hospital is set to occupy an area of about 600 square meters and will be situated around 8 meters below ground level. The structure will be built using reinforced concrete to endure heavy attacks and will feature six operating rooms designed for urgent trauma care, including surgeries for shrapnel wounds and performing blood transfusions.
Instead of serving as a long-term medical facility, the hospital will act as a stabilization center underground. This will allow severely injured soldiers to receive critical surgery promptly before being transferred to hospitals located further from the battlefront. For security reasons, the exact location of the hospital is being kept confidential. Construction preparations are currently in progress, with the opening anticipated for February 2027.
The initiative was requested by Ukraine’s Military Medical Service and is being executed with the backing of a Norwegian healthcare foundation. The cost of constructing the underground complex is projected to be €2 million. Additionally, another €500,000 will be needed for medical equipment, supplies, and armored vehicles for evacuation. Thus, the overall cost of the project is expected to reach €2.5 million. So far, the foundation has secured approximately €750,000 and is actively seeking an additional €1.75 million to fund the project fully.
Project organizers emphasize that the increasing use of drones in battlefield areas has made traditional evacuation methods more hazardous. As a result, there is a growing need for protected medical facilities situated close to combat zones to ensure the safety and timely medical treatment of those injured in the conflict.