Disease Echoes of World War I Plague Ukrainian Front Lines, Drones Hamper Evacuations
BAKHMUT, Ukraine – A surge in antibiotic-resistant infections mirroring conditions seen in World War I is compounding the medical crisis on the Ukrainian front lines, with drone warfare significantly hindering evacuation efforts and access to timely care. Medical personnel report treating casualties with infections unresponsive to common antibiotics, a situation exacerbated by delayed transport of the wounded due to constant aerial threats.
The grim reality reflects a dangerous regression in medical capabilities amidst ongoing conflict. The spread of multi-resistant pathogens, accelerated by war-torn conditions, threatens to turn even minor wounds into life-threatening emergencies. This echoes the devastating impact of infections during the First World War, before the widespread use of antibiotics, where sepsis and gangrene claimed more lives than combat itself.
Medical care is increasingly confined to makeshift facilities in bunkers and basements, as surface travel becomes too perilous. One paramedic reportedly spent three weeks continuously operating underground due to the drone threat. In May 2025, Ukrainian authorities allowed reporters from The Sun access to an underground clinic, showcasing the desperate measures being taken to provide even basic medical attention. Though, these facilities are limited to damage control – treating only the most instantly life-threatening injuries. Evacuations were reportedly eight hours behind schedule when reporters visited in early November.
The crisis was first highlighted in a January report by the BBC, which detailed the alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance within Ukraine. Andriy Strokan, deputy chief physician of Kiev’s Feofaniya Hospital, stated at the time that over 80 percent of patients admitted to his facility were infected with antibiotic-resistant microbes. The spread is directly linked to the war, with open wounds and compromised sanitation creating ideal conditions for bacterial evolution.
“Every small wound in the combat zone can be the beginning of the end,” underscores the severity of the situation, highlighting the multifaceted horrors of the conflict.
(Sources: Telegraph,MSD Manuals,BBC)
