Red Cross worker killed in Ukraine – country warns of health crisis in winter

The World Health Organization on Thursday issued a stark warning of a possible health crisis in Ukraine as the country faces its third winter of war since Russia's large-scale invasion.

The warning came after three Red Cross workers were killed by artillery attacks in eastern Ukraine on Thursday. The deadly attacks, which wounded two others, hit a Red Cross truck delivering firewood to the war-divided Donetsk region, the organization said.

Photos released by local police showed the truck ablaze. President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for the attack and called for a “decisive and fundamental” response from the international community.

Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, added: “Our hearts are broken today as we mourn the loss of our colleagues and care for the injured. This tragedy triggers a wave of grief that is all too familiar to all those who have lost loved ones in armed conflict.”

Aid organizations and Western governments are increasing their civilian aid to Ukraine to protect the country's hospitals and electricity supply from the winter. At the same time, Russia is trying to paralyze the country's electricity supply with its daily air strikes.

The World Health Organization warned on Thursday that severe damage to energy and health facilities would leave millions of people vulnerable as temperatures drop.

“Ukraine is experiencing its third winter in the midst of a full-scale war – probably its most difficult yet. The renewed focus on health is more important than ever,” Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, told reporters in Kyiv.

Since the large-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022, the UN agency has recorded nearly 2,000 attacks on Ukraine's health infrastructure, which it says have had a serious impact on the largely public health system.

“Targeted attacks have damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Frequent power outages are already taking their toll and point to dangers for the winter,” Kluge said after a visit to the frontline areas in eastern Ukraine.

“This could jeopardize vaccine storage and distribution and lead to an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases,” he said. Other concerns include possible contamination of the water system due to frequent power outages and increasing signs of antibiotic resistance due to the misuse of antibiotics.

“We have reports of wounds that simply do not heal due to antibiotic resistance,” said Kluge. “This could have consequences far beyond Ukraine if drugs become ineffective.”

The WHO plans to install 15 heating systems in hospitals at risk of further attacks, as well as a network of treatment clinics in areas where access to health care is difficult. This is part of an initiative by local Ukrainian authorities and Western governments. The organization is also seeking to provide generators and other emergency power options and help implement health system reforms planned by the state.

Initial work on these projects, Kluge said, is focused on Kharkiv, the second-largest city in eastern Ukraine, which is frequently under Russian fire. Earlier this week, the agency also announced that it had organized the donation of 23 ambulances to support medical care in most front-line areas.

Babenko and Keaten write for the Associated Press. Keaten reported from Geneva, Switzerland. Associated Press writers Derek Gatopoulos and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.