Recent Russian attacks on Ukraine have caused severe damage to the country’s healthcare infrastructure, destroying medical warehouses that supply the majority of Ukrainian pharmacies. These strikes, part of a series of military actions over the past year, have resulted in the loss of millions of dollars’ worth of vital medicines, raising concerns about potential shortages and disruptions in medical treatment.

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Massive Loss of Medical Supplies in Dnipro and Kyiv

On 6 December, a Russian air strike targeted a major warehouse in Dnipro, destroying approximately $110 million worth of medicines—roughly 30% of Ukraine’s monthly pharmaceutical supply. The warehouse was operated by BADM, one of two companies responsible for supplying about 85% of Ukrainian pharmacies.

Dmytro Babenko, acting director-general of BADM, explained the devastation:

“It was a missile and drone strike against our facility. The missiles flew past, but the drones hit it. They caused a fire which unfortunately proved impossible to contain, and the whole facility was destroyed.”

The impact was immediate and severe, not just for the warehouse but for the healthcare system across Ukraine.

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Repeated Attacks on Optima Pharm’s Warehouses

BADM is not the only pharmaceutical distributor affected. Optima Pharm, which shares the Ukrainian pharmacy market roughly equally with BADM, has seen its warehouses attacked multiple times this year:

• 28 August – First attack on storage facilities
• 25 October – Main warehouse in Kyiv destroyed, losses exceeding $100 million
• 15 November – Another strike causing further damage

Moscow denies targeting civilian facilities, claiming instead that the attacks were aimed at military and industrial sites, including a factory allegedly producing drones. However, these strikes have had direct consequences for Ukrainian healthcare, destroying medicines and complicating treatment for patients.

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Humanitarian Impact and NGO Losses

The destruction of medical warehouses has had severe humanitarian consequences. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), which had been using the Dnipro warehouse for distribution, reported the loss of $195,000 worth of medicine and medical supplies—enough to serve 30,000 people.

Andriy Moskalenko of the IRC described the scene:

“When I arrived at the site I was devastated. All of this medicine could have served people for years, and in a single moment it was all lost.”

The Dnipro facility was a critical hub for hospitals, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and humanitarian organizations. Its destruction has disrupted the delivery of essential medical care during a time of ongoing conflict.

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Ukraine’s Health System Under Attack

The attacks on medical infrastructure occur amid nearly four years of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities report that over 2,500 medical institutions have been damaged or destroyed, and more than 500 healthcare workers—including doctors, nurses, and medics—have been killed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) documented 2,763 attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare system since the beginning of the invasion, with a 12% increase in 2025 compared to the previous year.

These strikes have raised serious concerns about the deliberate targeting of hospitals, ambulances, and medical personnel. While Russia denies targeting civilian facilities, the consequences for Ukraine’s healthcare system are undeniable.

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Efforts to Restore Medical Supplies

Despite the destruction, pharmaceutical distributors remain committed to restoring Ukraine’s supply chain. Mr. Babenko of BADM expressed cautious optimism:

“There won’t be significant shortages, possibly only of certain types of goods. We’re hoping to restore all supplies in a month or a month-and-a-half.”

However, the loss of imported medicines that are not produced in Ukraine underscores the vulnerability of the country’s healthcare system to external attacks.

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Conclusion: A Threat to Healthcare in Ukraine

The repeated Russian strikes on Ukraine’s medical warehouses highlight the fragile state of the nation’s healthcare system amid ongoing conflict. The destruction of pharmaceutical facilities has disrupted medical supply chains, threatened patient care, and placed enormous strain on humanitarian organizations working to provide essential services.

As Ukraine continues to navigate these challenges, the resilience of its healthcare providers and international support remain critical to ensuring the population’s access to vital medicines.