On 29 April, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa took part in a joint briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the World Health Organization (WHO), dedicated to WHO’s activities in Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing aggression and held in the context of the recent World Health Day.
The briefing was also attended by Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Public Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance Mykhailo Radutskyi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale, and WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine Jarno Habicht.
During the event, Mariana Betsa expressed gratitude to international partners for their continued support to Ukraine amid Russia’s aggression and drew attention to the regular attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukraine’s healthcare system and their devasting consequences for civilians.
As a stark illustration of the egregious crimes committed by Russia against Ukraine, particularly targeting medical infrastructure and those who save lives every day, an important element of the briefing was the display of an ambulance vehicle, which had been destroyed in the latest Russian attack, outside the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine
"More than 1500 days of Russia’s ongoing full-scale armed aggression have demonstrated the complete disregard for civilian lives by the aggressor state, including attacks on humanitarian personnel and deliberate strikes on medical infrastructure, the abduction of Ukrainian children, as well as torture and inhumane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of
war", the Deputy Minister stressed.
Mariana Betsa also expressed special appreciation for the role of the WHO in supporting Ukraine. In 2025, WHO assistance reached approximately 1.9 million people across the country, including through the delivery of medicines, deployment of mobile medical teams, medical evacuations, and strengthening the capacity of healthcare facilities, particularly in the most dangerous frontline regions.
In turn, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko highlighted the conditions in which the healthcare system has been operating throughout the war, the urgent need for reconstruction of medical infrastructure, its ongoing transformation and key development priorities, as well as the critically important role of international partners in ensuring its resilience.
“Daily shelling, destruction of medical infrastructure, and growing humanitarian needs - these are the conditions in which the healthcare system has been operating since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to the latest estimates, the recovery needs of the healthcare sector over the next 10 years already amount to USD 23.6 billion. Hundreds of healthcare workers and patients in hospitals, ambulances, and pharmacies have been targeted. Despite these challenges, we are not only responding but also continuing to implement systemic reforms within the country. We clearly understand our way forward. The combination of resilience and transformation is embedded in the Healthcare Development Strategy until 2030. Its goal is to ensure quality, accessible and free medical care for people while strengthening the system’s preparedness for any challenges. We are grateful to WHO and all our partners for their sustained support along this path,” said Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko.
WHO Representative in Ukraine Jarno Habicht noted: "Carrying out WHO's health mission during active hostilities requires more than health expertise — it takes trust, coordination, and committed partnerships. Our work covers mental health, rehabilitation, disease prevention, and health system strengthening — as well as emergency response to keep hospitals and primary care operational and resilient, and to reach the most vulnerable communities. It moves forward every day because of those partnerships. We thank Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the opportunity to share this progress with the diplomatic community".
This event underscored the importance of continued international support for Ukraine and the uninterrupted activities of UN system agencies aimed at addressing the consequences of Russian aggression.