Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Hampers Healthcare: Hospitals Impacted, Patients Can’t Be Treated, Says Zelenskyy
- Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said almost 400 healthcare facilities have been destroyed by Russian troops
- Zelenskyy addressed a medical charity group and said the areas taken over by Russia are catastrophic
- He added there is a lack of medication for cancer patients and the virtual non-existence of insulin for people with diabetes
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KYIV - President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has begun targeting medical facilities in the country. He said Russian troops have left almost 400 healthcare facilities including hospitals, maternity wards, and outpatient clinics either damaged or destroyed.
Zelenskyy was addressing a medical charity group on Thursday 5 May and described areas taken over by Russia as catastrophic. He said certain eastern and southern areas in Ukraine lacked basic antibiotics.
Source: Getty Images
The president said there is a lack of medication for cancer patients and the virtual non-existence of insulin for people with diabetes. According to SABC News, Zelenskyy said carrying out surgeries was impossible due to the lack of antibiotics.
Earlier this year, a maternity hospital in the besieged port city of Mariupol was destroyed by Russian forces which were widely condemned. However, the Kremlin claims it only targets only military sites and not civilians.
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According to Reuters, there are daily reports that claim the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine has caused civilian casualties. The Governor of the Donetsk region Pavlo Kyrylenko said 32 residential buildings have been destroyed by shelling, 25 people were injured in Kramatorsk and a railway station bombing left more than 50 dead.
Russia condemned over targets
Social media users have called out Russia for destroying health care facilities in war-ravaged Ukraine:
@FadLynne said:
“Putin’s inhumanity era.”
@salalm42294674 wrote:
“Health institutions, their work and their humanitarian function, the health sector falls under the responsibility of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization. in every country in the world, its humanitarian missions should be respected, so do not spread the suffering on people.”
@SusieAnnQue2 commented:
“Destruction for destruction’s sake. Disgusting and sad.”
@snapipup added:
“Putin is waging a very costly war The oligarchs would be paying the damages.”
DA Leader John Steenhuisen on a fact finding mission in Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of the country
In a related matter, Briefly News also reported leader of the Democratic Alliance John Steenhuisen has touched down in Ukraine, where he said war is raging. He's on a fact-finding mission to uncover the true situation in the country and determine what effects the war will have on Africa, particularly South Africa.
Steenhuisen also hopes there are prospects for peace and plans in place to end the war as quickly as possible. During an interview with Newzroom Afrika, the DA leader said he believes that the South African government is pretending to be neutral over the war. Commenting on his visit, Steenhuisen said:
“Residental homes and buildings have been gutted. This is a war. It’s the first war of this scale taking place in Europe since the Second World War, and it has led to the largest displacement of people in Europe.”
Source: Briefly News
