Residents of Kolchugino in the Vladimir region have protested against the planned closure of the maternity ward at the central district hospital. After regional authorities announced an “optimization” plan in late December 2025, the town saw rallies, a petition campaign and a flashmob under the hashtag “Giving birth in a field”.
A new wave of discussion followed remarks by regional assembly deputy and chief physician of Maternity Hospital No. 2 in Vladimir, Sergey Telegin, made on January 15 at a meeting with pregnant residents. He compared medical care in Kolchugino to giving birth “in a field” and said the local unit could not fully handle emergency cases.
On January 17, about 200 people attended a rally in temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius. A petition against the closure gathered more than 6,500 signatures. On February 3, an initiative group sent an open letter to Vladimir Putin, accusing regional and district officials of ignoring residents’ concerns.
Residents say that if the ward closes, women in labor will have to travel to Aleksandrov or Vladimir, a distance of 64 to 100 kilometers. They argue this is especially dangerous given poor roads, snowfall and a shortage of ambulances, which they say can take up to 4–6 hours to arrive.
“Transporting women in labor 70 kilometers to Vladimir, especially in emergencies, creates a direct risk,” the petition says.
Larisa Kuzenkova, head of the department, said 268 children were born there in 2025 and that all deliveries were successful. According to her, the unit lacks two specialists, but the required doctors are available in a neighboring hospital building. She also said the department had received almost no budget funding for repairs for years, and that boilers, the shower room and the discharge room were renovated with help from staff, local businesses and residents.
The ward was originally due to close on February 1, but after public backlash its operation was extended until May 15, 2026. Residents say they plan to continue protesting and pressing for dialogue with the authorities.