MSF Ukraine: Kyiv under bombardment, threatening lives and essential medical care

31 July 2025 - A terrifying and tragic night in Kyiv, Ukraine, a city of over three million people, including families displaced from frontline regions and occupied territories. It is also home to Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams, and two of our coordination offices supporting activities across the country.

Early this morning, MSF staff — like all Kyiv residents — awoke to the sound of explosions. The city came under heavy attack by drones and missiles. Reports indicate strikes on homes, hospitals, schools, and universities in residential areas where families with children live. At least 8 people were reportedly killed during last night, including a six-year-old child, and more than 100 were injured including children.

In recent months, attacks on Kyiv have become more frequent. Since the full-scale invasion by Russian forces in 2022, many people have come to this city seeking safety. Now, even here, they are at risk. Kyiv is also home to major hospitals that provide specialised care. Patients with serious or complex medical needs are often transferred here from other parts of the country. Attacks on the city put both this care and the people who depend on it in danger.

“MSF in Ukraine is witnessing the devastating, continuous impact of intensified airstrikes on cities and residential areas across the country,” says Ainur Absemetova, MSF’s Head of Mission. “These attacks not only destroy homes and essential infrastructure like schools, hospitals, power and water systems — they also undermine people’s sense of safety and dignity, leaving them in a constant state of fear and uncertainty. This ongoing terror intensifies existing trauma, deepens insecurity, anxiety and increases the urgent need for emergency medical and psychological support.”

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