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In a rural village near the Ukrainian front lines, a line of women wait patiently outside a distinctive purple and white ambulance. They are awaiting consultations with a physician whose shaved head is dyed in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag.
For many, this marks their first encounter with a medical professional since the conflict began over three years ago.
Since 2022, Dr. Serhii Baksheiev, 53, has conducted more than 1,000 gynecological examinations on women in front-line areas using his mobile clinic, dubbed ‘The Feminine Shuttle,’ complete with a bright pink examination chair.
“This is a humanitarian mission undertaken by volunteers. It is for people in need, in regions lacking doctors or hospitals, and it is entirely free,” he explains.
The war with Russia has placed immense strain on Ukraine’s healthcare infrastructure, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting over 1,940 attacks on health facilities since the invasion—the highest number in any humanitarian crisis to date—and a significant escalation in attacks since December 2023.
At the onset of the war, Dr. Baksheiev, an obstetrician and gynecologist, spent his days in a Kyiv bunker, assisting in childbirth as bombs fell above.
The concept for a mobile clinic emerged, he says, after subsequent medical volunteer missions to the front lines exposed the severe lack of facilities due to the widespread destruction of medical centers and hospitals.
“We visited Kharkiv and Chernihiv, which sustained extensive damage, and the most challenging aspect was the inability to provide gynecological services due to the absence of tools and equipment—everything was destroyed,” he recounts.
Dr. Baksheiev and his team were forced to improvise, using whatever was available, including old sofas, as examination tables, often requiring him to kneel on the floor to perform examinations.
Today, touring the electric vehicle, it’s evident that Dr. Baksheiev takes immense pride in its capabilities. It is equipped with everything he and his team require in these remote areas, including an ultrasound machine and medical equipment for minor surgeries.
During a two-day mission, the team can perform up to 80 colposcopies, examining the cervix and vulva for signs of cancerous or precancerous tissue.
This work, often conducted discreetly, is vital for the residents of these remote, front-line rural areas.
Data provided by Ukraine’s public health ministry and reviewed by the BBC indicate that detection rates for ovarian and cervical cancers have decreased by 17% and 10%, respectively, since 2020.
Moreover, when doctors such as Dr. Baksheiev manage to access these areas for examinations, they are finding a higher-than-average incidence of malignant tumors.
According to FRIDA Ukraine, the medical organization for which Dr. Baksheiev volunteers, up to 4% of women are diagnosed with malignant tumors following examinations.
Dr. Ulana Supron, who served as Ukraine’s health minister from 2016 to 2019, expresses concern about the “ticking time bomb” of health outcomes as the war continues.
“Within the public health community, there is considerable apprehension about the repercussions of the ongoing war,” she states.
“This concern extends beyond physical health to encompass mental health, given the persistent stress and psychological trauma experienced by the population.”
Dr. Supron notes that the government has partially or fully reconstructed as many as 964 medical facilities damaged by Russia.
“They are collaborating closely with the WHO and other international organizations to develop a plan for rebuilding the health system that was in place prior to Russia’s invasion,” she adds.
Despite receiving a cancer diagnosis in September 2024, Dr. Baksheiev continues to volunteer and provide treatment to women across the country.
“Beyond the medical examination, we also listen to their stories, as many patients recount the Russian attacks on their villages,” he says.
“Thus, we serve not only as doctors but also as therapists for these patients.”
The group hopes to help women with newborn care, maternal health, and mental wellbeing.
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