The role of nursing in the armed conflict in Ukraine: a scoping review

Sergio Yago-Ríos, Aurora Sanjuan-Arago

INTRODUCTION. The armed conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2022, has generated the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. More than 2,500 attacks on health care facilities have been verified by the WHO, resulting in massive destruction of infrastructure, an exponential increase in health care demand, and serious consequences for the mental health of health care professionals.
OBJECTIVE. To describe and analyze the role of nursing in the armed conflict in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
METHODS. We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library (February 2022-May 2026).
RESULTS. A total of 26 sources of evidence were included, 14 (53.8 %) of which were empirical and 12 (46.2 %) nonempirical documents covering multiple geographical settings and health care contexts. Nursing assumed a multidimensional role: providing direct care, acting as a cultural bridge, serving as the target group in war-trauma training programs, and maintaining continuity of care. Sustained exposure to the conflict resulted in high prevalences of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and burnout.
DISCUSSION. The findings are contextualized within the global health care response, characterized by technological adaptation, logistical reorganization, strengthened training, and institutional mobilization by international nursing organizations such as the ICN. Nursing occupied a central role within multidisciplinary teams, performing clinical, educational, ethical, and organizational functions that extend beyond peacetime practice.
CONCLUSIONS. Nursing has played an adaptive and multidimensional role in the response to the armed conflict in Ukraine. The findings may be applicable to any humanitarian crisis setting.