A joint statement of IPPNW physicians in Russia and Ukraine

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, leading to human casualties. And in the case of escalation of the conflict it may cause more severe consequences, involvement of other countries, nuclear facilities and even nuclear confrontation.

It is a great tragedy in the center of Europe caused by the inability of authorities to speak to and understand each other, and who desire to have unilateral benefits for one country while not taking into consideration the rights and security of other countries.

The work of any doctor in this world is closely related to the principles of equality and non-judgmental approach in their work. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown to everyone how vulnerable medical workers can be as healthcare systems become overwhelmed by a disaster on such a scale. Widespread sickness, death and burnout among medical workers has underscored the need for major reinvestments of time, money and resources to educate and prepare competent and qualified professionals in the field of medicine.

Russia and Ukraine have been closely connected with each other since the very beginning of their history. It’s hard to find a person in Russia who (or whose friends) doesn’t have relatives in Ukraine. Both countries are a part of Eastern Europe and share close economic and cultural connections. All these facts make all the doctors feel much more concerned about the current situation in the region. And the most dangerous of all possible threats is, of course, the nuclear one.

We are deeply aware of the humanitarian consequences of nuclear disasters for health, the environment and the climate. Nuclear war could endanger all of human civilization. Even a single nuclear detonation would cause hundreds of thousands of deaths and the long-term consequences would last for decades. Hospitals would be destroyed and medical personnel killed or wounded. There is no cure for victims of a nuclear war. There is nothing medical services could do to help people. The only option is prevention.

In a world that has not only suffered from the health consequences of the pandemic, but also the isolation and division among people, families, communities and entire nations, the use of nuclear weapons would be the final threat to healthcare system and for all of humanity. The time has come to act now and do everything possible to save lives and find wise way to collaborate.

We call authorities of confronting parties and USA authorities to make everything to speed up constructive and effective negotiations to establish peace in Ukraine in order to save the lives of Ukrainian and Russian people.