Russia Tries To Block Debate On Attacks On Health Facilities In Ukraine At The World Health Assembly
Russia Tries To Block Debate On Attacks On Health Facilities In Ukraine At The World Health Assembly
Russia Tries To Block Debate On Attacks On Health Facilities In Ukraine - Health Policy Watch
Neither Russia’s delegate banging her desk to interrupt Ukraine’s representative speaking at the World Health Assembly (WHA), nor her request to dismiss
Neither Russia’s delegate banging her desk to interrupt Ukraine’s representative speaking at the World Health Assembly (WHA), nor her request to dismiss debate, stopped member states from condemning Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s health system.
A report by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General before delegates estimated that Russia’s aggression on Ukraine has caused 55,600 civilian casualties, including 14,999 deaths.
Violence intensified in 2025 with civilian casualties going up by 31% compared to the previous year, and by 70% when compared to 2023.
The WHO also documented 579 attacks on healthcare facilities that caused 19 deaths and 204 injuries among healthcare workers and patients in 2025. This was an 18% increase compared to 2024.
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“Since this report was published, WHO has recorded 190 new attacks on health care, with 86 injuries and 15 deaths between 1 January and 6 May, 2026,” said Dr Altaf Mossani, Director of Humanitarian Disaster Management, WHO Emergency Preparedness and Response program.
“On May 14, a clearly marked United Nations vehicle was severely damaged by drone strikes in Kherson City. This is the second incident that week,” he added.
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Countries raised alarm at the WHA that 202 of Ukraine’s 11,887 health facilities have been severely damaged, and 1,013 units are partially damaged.
Countries raised alarm at the WHA that 202 of Ukraine’s 11,887 health facilities have been severely damaged, and 1,013 units are partially damaged.
“We strongly condemn Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and the deliberate escalation of attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health care facilities, and we are deeply alarmed by the sharp increase in attacks on the health infrastructure since the last World Health Assembly,” Moldova’s representative told the WHA.
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Russia’s representative first moved to dismiss the debate on the report on Ukraine entirely. That request was put to a vote and defeated.
Following extensive discussion on the report, Russia again moved to stop the WHA from noting the report.
Russia was reminded that noting the report was merely procedural, but it requested a vote again. Once again, countries voted in favour of noting the report.
At one point, the Russian representative banged the desk several times to interrupt the Ukrainian speaker, and was reminded to raise the country’s flag if she wanted to make a statement.
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Russia then accused the WHO of spreading misinformation.
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Russia opposed the noting of the report by the WHA. The report was noted nevertheless, following a vote.
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