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Three years of support: East Hospital has admitted over 430 severely injured Ukrainian soldiers
With the day marking three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaching, the Riga East Clinical University Hospital (East Hospital) believes that the consequences of war – suffering, injuries, and destruction – will be visible and felt for a long time, even more so given that the average age of wounded soldiers is just 30, and their treatment and rehabilitation process is complex and long. So far, the East Hospital has admitted 434 soldiers and other civilians transported from Ukraine. Business owners involved in organising the aid point out that the physical consequences of the war are more severe than physical injuries. Therefore, it is crucial to continue admitting and treating severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers to help them reintegrate into civilian life and society.
24 February 2025 marks three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. So far, the East Hospital has admitted a total of 434 Ukrainian soldiers and other civilians who have been severely injured in the war started by Russia. All of them have receive medical treatment and rehabilitation in Latvia.
Reflecting on these three years of providing medical assistance to severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers, the East Hospital specialists have gained important insights into war trauma treatment and its challenges. One of the most significant aspects is the need to adapt treatment strategies to address the complexity of such injuries. The head of the East Hospital’s Trauma and Orthopaedics Clinic, Andris Vikmanis, points out: “War injuries significantly differ from peacetime injuries. They often involve shattered and torn body parts. While in peacetime, our approach is to perform the necessary procedures in a single surgery, in the case of war injuries, the key is gradual surgical planning to achieve better treatment outcomes. There have been cases where a patient has undergone as many as 20 consecutive surgeries to restore functionality and ensure mobility. When dealing with war injuries, haste is not an option. Once the patient’s life is saved, careful monitoring is required, and all possible efforts must be made to avoid making the situation worse, as we are aware that some treatment protocols, such as those for combating infections, no longer work.”
Physicians also face the challenge of antibiotic resistance, which significantly impacts the treatment process. Many soldiers have had uncontrolled and incomplete antibiotic use before arriving at the hospital, making infection control considerably more difficult and prolonging treatment time. To ensure successful healing, repeated surgeries are often necessary to effectively contain infections and prevent complications.
After prolonged exposure to war conditions, physicians observe not only the consequences of physical injuries but also the deterioration of soldiers’ mental state. Many of those patients are only 30 to 33 years old. The head of the Trauma and Orthopaedics Clinic, Andris Vikmanis, emphasizes that those men are in the prime of their lives, yet due to severe injuries, many of them would be classified as having a disability under Latvian regulations. “Once the war is over, we will continue to see the suffering these soldiers have endured right before our eyes,” says Andris Vikmanis.
To reduce the impact of war injuries and help the wounded regain mobility and quality of life, the team of microsurgeons also plays a crucial role. Since 2014, specialists from the Latvian Microsurgery Centre have been providing multidisciplinary support for the treatment of injured Ukrainians in the operating rooms of the East Hospital. During this time, more than 150 reconstructive surgeries have been performed on war casualties, including complex reconstructive procedures using microvascular tissue flaps, as well as surgeries for nerve damage in various locations, helping soldiers regain mobility.
Plastic surgeon from the Latvian Microsurgery Centre, Dr. med. Mārtiņš Kapickis, points out: “The majority of war-injured patients perceive treatment in Latvia as assistance and do not take it for granted. They do not make unreasonable demands and are genuinely grateful for the support provided. This attitude reflects their deep motivation. They defend their country not out of duty but out of conviction and an awareness of its value.”
In order for the injured Ukrainian soldiers to be able to receive treatment and rehabilitation in Latvia, they are transported by a specially equipped bus. This is made possible by the M-Help.com charity project founded by Arvis Rekets and Mārtiņš Medinieks in cooperation with Georgy Logvinsky Charity Foundation.
The founder of the M-Help.com charity project, Mārtiņš Medinieks, emphasizes that physical injuries are visible, but war-inflicted psychological consequences often cut deeper: “For many of them, their war experience has lasted longer than any job they have ever held, and their future remains uncertain. Despite the horrors and losses they have endured, they still hold on to hope and a desire to be useful. The medical staff at the East Hospital play a crucial role not only by providing physical assistance but also by offering support and a chance to regain quality of life after the war. I wish those soldiers, whom I deeply respect and consider heroes, as well as their families and loved ones, the strength and resilience to find their path in life.”
Sergeant Maksim Lalldzh is another severely injured soldier who currently undergoes rehabilitation in Latvia. At the beginning of the war, Maksim volunteered to assist soldiers, but after learning of the war crimes being committed, he joined an infantry assault unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend his family and country. During a combat near Bakhmut, he sustained severe injuries, including wounds to his shoulder, hip, leg, and knee, as well as a concussion. In Ukraine, he underwent an extremely complex surgical procedure, after which his recovery proved to be a significant challenge. Medical care received in Latvia has made it possible for him to improve the functionality of his injured body parts and regain mobility: “I am endlessly grateful to the people of Latvia – the warm-hearted individuals, the outstanding physicians, and the rehabilitation specialists who welcomed and helped us. You have shared your bread with us in our time of need. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you and wish that Latvia never has to experience war.”
The East Hospital was one of the first medical institutions in Latvia to respond to the call for assistance and continues to treat and rehabilitate Ukrainians wounded in the war.
On 27 February 2025, an aid bus carrying Ukrainians severely injured in the war started by Russia will once again arrive at the East Hospital. The hospital will continue to provide them with the necessary treatment and rehabilitation, reaffirming its unwavering support for Ukraine.
Photos documenting the arrival of injured Ukrainian soldiers at the East Hospital are available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/austrumu_slimnicas_foto/albums/72177720323969468
About the East Hospital
Riga East Clinical University Hospital is the largest and strategically significant multi-profile hospital in the country. The hospital consists of five inpatient facilities – Gaiļezers, Latvian Oncology Centre, Biķernieki, Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Centre, and Latvian Infectious Diseases Centre, along with various specialised centres and clinics. The hospital provides highly specialised inpatient and secondary outpatient healthcare, offering multidisciplinary tertiary-level treatment and care in line with modern technology and medical knowledge. Approximately 80% of all cancer patients in Latvia are treated at the hospital. It serves as a practical training base for both Latvian educational institutions and foreign students, providing further education and knowledge transfer to healthcare specialists within and beyond the country. The hospital engages in scientific research and develops innovative methods for patient treatment. As the third-largest employer in the country, the hospital employs around 5000 staff members.
