Rising Influx of Severely Wounded Ukrainian Soldiers at Mechnikov Hospital in Dnepr
By Avi Farah
Published January 10, 2024
The Mechnikov Hospital in Dnepr, one of the oldest and largest in Ukraine, has seen a significant surge in the number of severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers being admitted for treatment. Dr. Sergey Ryzhenko, the head of the hospital, has reported that the facility is now admitting between 40 and 100 seriously injured service members daily.
Challenges Faced by Medical Team
The hospital's medical team is working tirelessly to address the influx of wounded soldiers, performing between 50 and 100 surgical procedures each day. Many of these procedures involve amputations, with approximately 3,000 service members having undergone amputation surgeries since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
Impact of Russian Drone Strikes
ABC News interviewed a Ukrainian amputee who lost his arm in a Russian drone strike, highlighting the devastating impact of advanced weaponry in the conflict. The use of drones has been identified as a significant threat, posing a danger to Ukrainian soldiers and leading to a rise in the number of wounded personnel.
Advantages of Russian Forces
According to reports from unnamed Ukrainian soldiers, Russian forces have gained strategic advantages, including a larger inventory of drones and ammunition, as well as the capability to counter Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles. These advantages have contributed to an increase in the number of casualties among Ukrainian troops.
Challenges in Military Supplies and Recruitment
Ukraine's reliance on Western support for military supplies has faced obstacles, with delays in funding approval from the US and challenges in securing aid from the EU due to political opposition. The country has also encountered difficulties in mobilizing additional troops, with the conscription campaign being affected by issues such as draft dodging and corruption.
Estimates of Battlefield Losses
There have been differing estimates of the scale of Ukraine's battlefield losses. While official data has not been released, former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Yury Lutsenko suggested that revealing the true extent of losses, which he estimated at 500,000, could potentially impact public perception and support for the conflict. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu's claims of Ukrainian casualties have also been a point of contention, with conflicting figures provided by Moscow.
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