During July, the Ukrainian Red Cross faced a series of attacks affecting its logistics facilities and volunteers in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions.
Nothing is more devastating for an organization than losing one of its people. Tragically, the Ukrainian Red Cross suffered such a loss in Odesa, where volunteer and first aid instructor Olena Arkhipova was killed during a Russian missile strike. At the time of the attack, Olena was rushing to a shelter with her children. Fortunately, her children survived and are receiving all necessary support.
The Ukrainian Red Cross also sustained significant damage to its humanitarian logistics capacity. A large-scale attack in early July destroyed one of the organization's warehouse complexes near Kyiv. As a result, 320,000 units of humanitarian aid and equipment worth more than UAH 79 million were destroyed. These supplies were intended to support hundreds of thousands of vulnerable civilians and to equip healthcare facilities. The loss of these humanitarian reserves may significantly affect the organization's ability to respond rapidly to urgent needs across the country.
Humanitarian vehicles responding to emergencies are also being targeted. In Vilniansk, Zaporizhzhia region, a direct FPV drone strike destroyed a Ukrainian Red Cross Emergency Response Team vehicle. The vehicle was clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem and was targeted while volunteers were providing first aid to an injured civilian. Fortunately, no Ukrainian Red Cross staff or volunteers were harmed in the incident.
In addition, shelling in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, damaged the premises of the local Ukrainian Red Cross office, temporarily limiting the operations of the organization's branch serving communities close to the frontline.
The Ukrainian Red Cross emphasizes that attacks against civilian objects, humanitarian infrastructure, and clearly marked humanitarian vehicles constitute violations of international humanitarian law.
Despite constant risks and extremely challenging conditions, Ukrainian Red Cross staff and volunteers continue to provide life-saving assistance to civilians across the country.
If your company would like to support the restoration of lost humanitarian reserves or otherwise help people most affected by the war, please contact us at partners@redcross.org.ua.
