Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Donetsk region has been at the center of military operations, enduring some of the most intense battles and relentless shelling. As a result, most of the region’s population was forced to flee—either relocating to other parts of Ukraine or seeking refuge abroad—to protect themselves and their families. Many left behind the homes where they had lived their entire lives.
However, a significant number of people remain in the unoccupied yet severely damaged parts of the Donetsk region. Among them are displaced residents from cities that were destroyed, as well as those who—due to age, health conditions, social circumstances or other reasons—were unable to leave. These people continue to live under constant threat, facing ongoing shelling and ever-changing frontlines.
After conducting an assessment, International Medical Corps decided to establish a mobile medical unit (MMU) in seven villages in the Kryvorizhska and Dobropilska hromadas—Gannivka, Novofedorivka, Novoukrainka, Shilovka, Virivka, Yuriivka and Zavidovo-Kudashevo—to provide much-needed medical assistance to the local population.
These seven settlements are home to approximately 4,000 people, including around 400 internally displaced people (IDPs). The communities are geographically isolated and lack essential infrastructure such as medical facilities, pharmacies and public transportation, making it difficult for residents to access basic healthcare services.
The majority of the population consists of elderly people, many of whom suffer from chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Without medical support near by, managing these conditions is particularly challenging. The region’s inaccessibility further complicates healthcare access, leaving many residents dependent on external assistance to meet their medical needs.
Before the MMU started coming here, seeing a doctor felt impossible. Now, they visit our village, and I finally get the care I need. Thanks to them, I feel healthier and no longer forgotten.
Lidiya, 65-year-old-patient
To help address these challenges, International Medical Corps—supported by the European Union—teamed up with the local health department to establish the MMU in August 2024. The goal was to ensure continuous high-quality, timely primary healthcare services, with an integrated mental health and psychosocial support component. Each MMU consists of a family doctor, a nurse, a driver and a social worker or psychologist. The team provides medical consultations, distributes essential medicine supplied by International Medical Corps and offers psychological support to help residents cope with stress, anxiety and hardship.
On average, the MMU provides medical assistance to 25 to 30 patients per day, addressing both urgent and chronic health needs. Patients commonly require routine check-ups, prescription refills and management of long-term health conditions. The unit also plays a crucial role in monitoring and supporting vulnerable people who would otherwise have no access to regular medical care.
Among those patients is Lidiya, a 65-year-old woman fighting a battle for survival. She suffers from a severe complication of cholecystopancreatitis—pancreatic necrosis—which required a long and complex surgical treatment in Pokrovsk in 2024. However, as heavy shelling intensified and the city announced a civilian evacuation, Lidiya was discharged into uncertainty, with no access to follow-up care.
With no means to travel and no healthcare facilities nearby, she faced a grim reality—until our MMU doctor, Mykola Shevelev, stepped in. Our team made sure she received the necessary post-surgical dressings and rehabilitation treatment.
But Lidiya’s struggles do not end there. She also battles hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, deforming osteoarthritis of the knee joints and neurasthenia. Without consistent medical attention, her conditions could rapidly deteriorate. Now our team regularly travels to where Yuriivka lives, ensuring that she remains under constant medical supervision and receives the supportive treatment she desperately needs. For patients like Lidiya, the MMU is not just a healthcare service—it is a lifeline.
Moreover, International Medical Corps supplied primary healthcare centers and the MMU with essential medications and medical supplies. Dobropillia Primary Healthcare Center (PHCC) received 2,551 packages of medicine across 100 different positions, including medical equipment, while the Kryvorizhska PHCC received 3,577 packages, covering 249 different positions. These supplies include various medications for cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, respiratory illnesses and other conditions. The facilities conduct monthly audits and order necessary medications based on needs and statistical data, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
