Ukrainian Surgeons Race to Save Lives Amid Missile Attacks

The relentless conflict in Ukraine continues to push the country’s healthcare system to its breaking point, forcing medical professionals to perform life-saving procedures under extraordinary and increasingly dangerous conditions. A recent case exemplifies this reality: surgeons in Kyiv raced through a massive missile strike to deliver a donor heart to a 12-year-old girl awaiting a transplant.

Dr. Borys Todurov, director of the Kyiv Heart Institute, recounted the harrowing experience. “When we take the heart from the donor we only have a few hours – about four hours – to transport the donor heart to our hospital,” he explained. But as his team prepared to transport the organ, a large-scale missile attack began. Rather than risk the life of the driver, Dr. Todurov took the wheel of the ambulance himself, navigating a 20-kilometer route through the city while explosions erupted around them.

The successful transplant was one of 63 heart transplants performed by Dr. Todurov’s team last year, and represents just a fraction of the thousands of operations carried out under increasingly challenging circumstances. The situation has become particularly dire as Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches its four-year mark on February 24th, with the civilian population facing worsening conditions.

The ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure, particularly its energy grid, have created a cascade of problems for healthcare facilities. Frequent and prolonged blackouts are now commonplace, forcing doctors to adapt to operating in dimly lit basements or even complete darkness. According to reports, surgeons have been forced to conduct complex procedures with limited anesthesia, and in some cases, without any power at all.

The Kyiv Heart Institute, like many other hospitals in Ukraine, has been forced to become self-sufficient. Dr. Todurov explained that they have invested in their own diesel-powered generators, independent water sources, Starlink internet connectivity, and wood-burning boilers to maintain essential services during prolonged outages. “When we lose electricity, we lose the water, we lose the heating, we lose the possibility to wash, to heat, to flush toilets. Everything,” he said.

The impact of the war on civilian health is stark. In 2025, at least 2,526 civilians were killed and over 12,000 injured, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. This represents a 31% increase in deaths compared to 2024, and a 70% increase compared to 2023. The UN mission specifically highlighted the worsening harm to civilians resulting from sustained attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Dr. Todurov, during a recent visit to Australia, described the harsh winter conditions, with temperatures frequently dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius. He noted that many households in Kyiv experience electricity for only two or three hours per day, and some regions have gone weeks without power. Despite the immense challenges, Dr. Todurov and his team remain committed to their work, viewing it as a “special mission” to provide care and inspire hope.

As this article was being finalized, Dr. Todurov received notification of incoming ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv, anticipating another blackout at the hospital. Despite the constant threat, the dedication of Ukrainian medical professionals remains unwavering, a testament to their commitment to saving lives in the face of unimaginable adversity.