WHO Reports Third Attack on Ukraine Medical Warehouses in Three Months

This is the third attack on a WHO‑used storage facility in the past three months.

“Yesterday, overnight between 3 and 4 September, an air strike in Kyiv oblast hit one of WHO’s main warehouses that store humanitarian medical needs and supplies,” said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, he added that “access to the site remains restricted because of heavy smoke and safety concerns, while assessments of possible damage and stock losses are ongoing.”

No WHO personnel were harmed, he said.

Healthcare under fire

This incident follows two other attacks on WHO warehouses in different parts of the country over the past three months. The facilities hold essential medical supplies intended for people in frontline and hard‑to‑reach areas.

Two weeks ago, an attack destroyed a WHO humanitarian warehouse in Dnipro, destroying half of the medical supplies and equipment meant to support an estimated 225,000 people in frontline zones, according to WHO.

“Another WHO warehouse in Kyiv oblast was damaged during a large‑scale wave of attacks on Kyiv and the region in July,” Mr Lindmeier noted.

Lifeline for civilians

Humanitarian medical supplies are a lifeline for patients in frontline and hard‑to‑reach areas. The WHO spokesperson stressed that attacks on these warehouses can delay or disrupt essential health support for those most in need.

The agency is increasingly concerned about a growing pattern of attacks on humanitarian storage facilities across the country.

“The attacks are part of a broader pattern affecting humanitarian operations nationwide. In 2026, at least 20 attacks have hit warehouses storing humanitarian supplies, including 15 attacks on health‑related warehouses,” Mr Lindmeier said.

He emphasized that the locations of United Nations and WHO facilities are known to all parties, as they are communicated through established de‑confliction arrangements.

“In my understanding, all warehouses, UN locations, and WHO sites are de‑conflicted. That means their whereabouts are shared with all sides of the conflict and are well known,” Mr Lindmeier explained.

Commitment to deliver

Despite the attacks, WHO continues to work with health partners across Ukraine to ensure essential medical supplies reach health facilities and communities in need. Following the latest incidents, alternative storage arrangements have been identified, and efforts are underway to assess damage and replace lost supplies.

In 2026, WHO’s overall humanitarian response provided equipment and supplies to more than 300 health‑care facilities—including primary‑care centres, hospitals, laboratories, and transit centres—supporting a health system that reached three million beneficiaries.

Since Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, WHO has verified more than 3,000 attacks on health care, including strikes on health facilities, ambulances, medical supplies, and warehouses.

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