In a small village near Ukraine’s front line, a brightly colored ambulance painted in purple and white stands out against the bleak backdrop of war. Inside is a mobile clinic where women patiently wait for a rare chance to receive medical care—some for the first time since the war began over three years ago. At the heart of this humanitarian mission is a determined doctor whose shaved head bears the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Since 2022, this mobile unit, dubbed “The Feminine Shuttle,” has traveled through war-torn regions to provide essential gynecological care to women who have been cut off from basic health services. The vehicle is fully equipped with modern medical tools, including an ultrasound machine and equipment for minor surgical procedures. Over 1,000 examinations have been performed inside its compact, yet capable space.
Before this initiative, delivering care in the front-line zones was a challenge. Medical facilities were destroyed, leaving few options for women’s health. Makeshift clinics were set up using whatever was available—old sofas for examination tables and household chairs for surgical instruments. In such conditions, the doctor and his small team often had to kneel on the floor to examine patients, highlighting the dire need for a dedicated mobile unit.
Today, the mobile clinic can serve up to 80 women in a single two-day visit, offering services such as colposcopies to detect early signs of cancer. This work is not only life-saving but also deeply personal. Many of the women share harrowing stories of how their villages were attacked, finding solace in both the medical attention and the compassionate care offered by the team.
Cancer detection rates have sharply declined in Ukraine since the war began, with fewer screenings leading to later-stage diagnoses. Yet in areas reached by the mobile unit, the team has discovered that up to 4% of the women examined are diagnosed with malignant tumors. These findings point to a silent crisis, exacerbated by the lack of access to regular healthcare.
The war has severely crippled Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure. Over 1,900 attacks on health facilities have been recorded, making it the most targeted healthcare system in any ongoing humanitarian crisis. Although efforts are underway to rebuild destroyed hospitals and clinics, the need for mobile medical missions remains urgent.
Despite facing his own health struggles—including a cancer diagnosis in late 2024—the doctor continues his volunteer work without pause. For him, the mission is not only about treating illness but also about restoring dignity and offering a listening ear to women who have endured the trauma of war.
In the face of danger and destruction, this mobile clinic has become a beacon of resilience and care. Its presence brings not just medical aid, but hope—a reminder that even in times of war, humanity persists.
