UN Warns Maternal Deaths in Ukraine Rose 37% As War Devastates Maternity Care

The United Nations population agency, UNFPA, says the war in Ukraine is putting pregnant women at growing risk and has driven a sharp uptick in maternal deaths and severe pregnancy complications.

Key Findings

UNFPA's latest analysis — based on the most recent full year of available data — shows the maternal mortality rate in Ukraine rose from 18.9 to 25.9 deaths per 100,000 live births between 2023 and 2024, an increase of roughly 37%.

The period also saw a higher share of pregnant women suffering life‑threatening complications: reported uterine ruptures increased by 44% and hypertension during pregnancy rose by 12%. UNFPA also flagged elevated cesarean section rates in some frontline regions, a common sign of strained maternity services in humanitarian crises.

Damage To Health Infrastructure

Since Russia's full‑scale invasion began in 2022, UNFPA reports that more than 80 maternity and neonatal facilities have been damaged or destroyed, as part of over 2,760 healthcare sites struck across Ukraine. Such damage, together with disruptions to essential services, is forcing many women to give birth in dangerous conditions and without timely, safe care.

UNFPA issued the warning six days after a strike damaged a maternity hospital it operates in Kherson; the agency reported no injuries in that incident.

"Our latest analysis shows a sharp deterioration in maternal health across Ukraine, with more women at risk of dying and more pregnancies ending in life‑threatening complications," said Florence Bauer, UNFPA's director for Eastern Europe.

UNFPA called for urgent protection of health facilities and humanitarian access, noting that international humanitarian law expressly forbids targeting health workers and medical sites even during armed conflict.

What This Means: The combination of damaged infrastructure, disrupted services and a stressed health system has translated into measurable declines in maternal health and increased risks for pregnant women and newborns across Ukraine.