ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is seeing a rising number of premature births, emergency cesarean sections and other pregnancy complications.
Some areas near the front lines have seen rates of premature births nearly double since the war started with Russia’s invasion in 2022, according to U.N. data. Experts say the reasons for this are complex, but the profound psychological and physical stress the war is inflicting on pregnant mothers is contributing.
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Mariia Skladan, right, her husband Vladyslav and their daughter Elina pose for a photo after mother and baby left the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A woman pushes her baby in a stroller past a car workshop destroyed in a Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Marharyta Nekhoroshyva holds her son Mark inside a shelter at the children's regional hospital of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A medic does exercises with a 1-year-old child during a therapy session at the children's regional hospital in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Marharyta Nekhoroshyva, right, speaks to a medic while her son Mark plays with toys during a therapy session at the children's regional hospital in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Nurse Victoria Bohdanova changes the diaper of a premature baby inside a temperature-controlled incubator at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Dasha Kosmin touches her son Mark at the ICU department of the children's regional hospital in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Dr. Andrii Lobanov listens to a premature baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope inside a temperature-controlled incubator at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A doctor shows Olha Karpenko her newborn daughter, Diana, for the first time after her birth by cesarean section at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A medic calms Olha Karpenko before a cesarean section at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A doctor holds a newborn girl, Diana, after performing a cesarean section on her mother, Olha Karpenko, at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A nurse checks the temperature of a premature baby inside a temperature-controlled incubator at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Dasha Kosmin touches her son Mark at the ICU department of the children's regional hospital in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
“We’re seeing this real link between acute stress and birthing and pregnancy-related complications,” said Isaac Hurskin, a spokesperson for the U.N. Population Fund.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Mariia Skladan, right, her husband Vladyslav and their daughter Elina pose for a photo after mother and baby left the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A woman pushes her baby in a stroller past a car workshop destroyed in a Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Marharyta Nekhoroshyva holds her son Mark inside a shelter at the children's regional hospital of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A medic does exercises with a 1-year-old child during a therapy session at the children's regional hospital in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Marharyta Nekhoroshyva, right, speaks to a medic while her son Mark plays with toys during a therapy session at the children's regional hospital in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Nurse Victoria Bohdanova changes the diaper of a premature baby inside a temperature-controlled incubator at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Dasha Kosmin touches her son Mark at the ICU department of the children's regional hospital in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Dr. Andrii Lobanov listens to a premature baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope inside a temperature-controlled incubator at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A doctor shows Olha Karpenko her newborn daughter, Diana, for the first time after her birth by cesarean section at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A medic calms Olha Karpenko before a cesarean section at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A doctor holds a newborn girl, Diana, after performing a cesarean section on her mother, Olha Karpenko, at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A nurse checks the temperature of a premature baby inside a temperature-controlled incubator at the regional perinatal center of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Dasha Kosmin touches her son Mark at the ICU department of the children's regional hospital in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Thursday, May 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
