UN weighs moving Ukraine aid supplies underground after 10 warehouse strikes

September 15, 2026 at 10:01 PM2 min

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The UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine said on Tuesday the organization is considering moving aid supplies underground after Russian strikes hit 10 of its warehouses this year. Matthias Schmale said the attacks destroyed millions of dollars in supplies, including a WHO medical warehouse earlier this month. The UN is also delaying aid purchases and investing in armored vehicles and drone detection as civilian casualties rise.

Key Facts

Russian strikes have hit 10 UN warehouses in Ukraine this year, destroying millions of dollars' worth of supplies.
A WHO warehouse containing medical supplies was hit earlier this month.
The UN is considering moving aid supplies into underground bunkers and delaying purchases until the last minute.
The UN's 2026 aid budget for Ukraine is $2.3 billion, and the extra costs of underground storage were not foreseen in it.
The UN is investing in armored vehicles and drone-detection devices to protect staff.

Warehouse Strikes

Russian strikes have hit 10 UN warehouses in Ukraine this year, destroying millions of dollars' worth of supplies. One of the World Health Organization's main warehouses containing medical supplies was hit earlier this month. Other strikes destroyed hygiene kits and children's school supplies. UN Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale called the deliberate attacks on warehousing capacities a new trend of the last few months.

Underground Storage Plan

The UN is weighing moving supplies into underground bunkers and delaying purchases of aid supplies until the last minute to reduce exposure to strikes. Schmale said the front line is increasingly moving into the air, adding extra costs for taxpayers who fund the goods. The extra costs were not foreseen in the UN's $2.3 billion aid budget for 2026. The UN is investing in more armored vehicles and drone-detection devices to protect staff.

Civilian Protection

The UN is considering growing Ukrainian requests for mobile drone shelters in the streets, such as near bus shelters. Civilian casualties are rising, according to Schmale.