Sloviansk's Only Maternity Hospital Shuts Down Following Russian Strike

Maternity Hospital Closure in Sloviansk

According to Главком: Sloviansk’s sole maternity hospital is closing its doors after an aerial attack on June 8. The decision came after the facility suffered extensive damage from the blast wave. A Russian air-dropped bomb landed just 200 meters away, posing a severe threat to patients and medical staff. According to preliminary reports, no patients or hospital employees were among the casualties.

The airstrike involved three bomb drops on the city, injuring nine people, including a 17-year-old girl. In addition, the shelling damaged at least 12 multi-story apartment buildings, private homes, an administrative building, and an educational institution. As a result, several districts of Sloviansk are now completely without water supply.

City Situation

In response to the deteriorating conditions, trolleybuses and trams have been evacuated from the city, leaving only buses to handle passenger transport. The mandatory evacuation zone for families with children has been expanded, particularly in the Slovkurort, Cherevkivka, and Khimik microdistricts, where 366 children were living as of early June. Currently, around 45,000 civilians remain in Sloviansk.

Sloviansk lies just 25 to 35 kilometers from the front line. National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko noted that Russia has the capacity to sustain the war for another one to two years. He also emphasized that capturing Sloviansk or Kramatorsk is not realistic, even over a multi-year horizon. Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) consider it unlikely that Russia will establish full control over Donetsk Oblast by 2026.

'The situation in the city remains critical,' said Sloviansk Mayor Vadym Lyakh.

The city continues to face severe wartime challenges, requiring urgent measures to ensure civilian safety.

The closure of Sloviansk’s maternity hospital underscores the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe caused by military hostilities. The loss of infrastructure, especially medical facilities, endangers not only the lives of women and children but also the overall healthcare system in the region. Worsening water shortages and population evacuations highlight the need for immediate government action to protect civilians. Amid the prolonged conflict, ensuring access to basic services and security for those remaining in the combat zone remains critical.

As the situation in Sloviansk continues to deteriorate, the impact of ongoing Russian strikes is increasingly evident. Recently, a targeted attack hit a fire and rescue unit, further endangering the safety of civilians in the area. For more details on this alarming incident and its implications for the local population, see our report on the recent strike on emergency services in Sloviansk.