Revolutionary Medical Facility TransformsBattlefield Care
In an unprecedented feat of wartime innovation, Ukraine hasbecome the first country globally to deploy an advanced surgical unitunderground near active combat zones. The 500-square-meter facility,constructed six meters beneath the earth's surface, operates with completeautonomy and remains concealed from enemy surveillance, providing crucialprotection for both medical staff and wounded soldiers.
Roman Kuziv, commander of the "East" medicalforces group of Ukraine's armed forces, initiated the project after recognizingthe critical need for protected surgical facilities that could continueoperating during artillery barrages. "We are the first in the world tomove an advanced surgical unit underground," Kuziv explains. "Wecannot stop a surgery, for example, during shelling. At the same time, medicscannot protect themselves, and the enemy does not comply with the GenevaConventions."
Steel Fortresses: Engineering Marvels UnderFire
The underground hospital was built by Metinvest Group atnon-industrial sites specially arranged outside its main production facilities.The structure, based on steel "hideout" bunkers developed by thecompany, has been rigorously tested to withstand significant explosive impacts,including 120-mm mines, 80-mm mortars, anti-tank mines, and even threeexplosive charges containing 8 kilograms of TNT dropped from drones.
Oleksandr Myronenko, Metinvest Group's chief operatingofficer, revealed that the company invested UAH20 million (approximately$486,000) in the hospital, including UAH7 million for medical equipment andUAH13 million for construction materials and work. "These are old Sovietdesigns that we have improved. This is our know-how," Myronenko stated."The need for hospitals is measured in dozens. There is a need to dig in,and the deeper, the safer, given the means of destruction used by the enemy."
Life-Saving Operations in the Shadow of War
The hospital functions as a prototype of a large cityemergency facility but operates in an active combat zone. It includes alaboratory, intensive care unit, operating rooms, and even living quarters formedical staff who must remain underground to avoid detection. The surgical teamcan provide a comprehensive range of emergency medical care, with the capacityto treat up to 200 patients daily.
Oleksandr Holovachenko, the 45-year-old head of thesurgical department known to colleagues as "Serhiyovych," is apediatric surgeon with 22 years of experience in civilian life. "At war,we have seen things that we would never encounter in civilian medicine,"he notes. "We have to make decisions here and now. There were times whenall of us had to work simultaneously because of the sheer number of wounded.Some were brought in with carotid artery injury. With that kind of injury, aperson loses blood quickly... we managed to save them."
Expanding the Underground Network
Following the success of this first facility, which becameoperational in early August 2024, Metinvest Group has committed to opening twomore underground hospitals. The second is scheduled to open in May and thethird in June, though they will be smaller at 250 square meters and morecompact. These additional facilities will cost between UAH12 million and UAH15million each
The underground hospital meets the requirements of asecond-echelon field hospital (Role/Echelon 2) in accordance with NATOstandards. This classification enables the site to provide intensive care,treatment, and post-care support for patients until discharge or transport toanother medical facility.
Key Takeaways:
* Ukraine's first underground hospital has saved thousandsof soldiers' lives while operating just kilometers from the front line in afully protected environment.
* Metinvest Group invested UAH20 million ($486,000) in thefacility, which can withstand direct hits from mines, mortars, anddrone-dropped explosives.
* Two additional underground hospitals are planned to openin May and June 2025, expanding this life-saving network across critical areasof the front line.
