Every year on 19 August, on World Humanitarian Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine joins the global community in honoring humanitarian workers, rescuers, paramedics, volunteers, and all those who have devoted their lives to providing selfless assistance and support to others.

Humanitarian response has assumed particular importance for Ukraine since 2014, when Russia launched its armed aggression against our country. Since February 2022, the scale and operating environment of humanitarian activities in Ukraine have undergone profound changes. From the very first days of its full-scale invasion, the Russian Federation has demonstrated disregard for the principles of humanity and the fundamental norms of international humanitarian law.

Unfortunately, 2026 has been no exception. The trend of increasing attacks against humanitarian personnel, as well as against rescue and relief operations aimed at assisting people in need, continues. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 10 people have been killed and at least 39 others injured in the line of duty in 2026.

We honor the memory of all those who lost their lives while saving the lives of others and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured. We emphasize the imperative of bringing all those responsible for these crimes to justice and holding them accountable.

Russia’s attacks are deliberate and targeted. Russian forces repeatedly strike civilian and critical infrastructure facilities that have already been damaged, knowingly put rescuers and medical personnel at risk, target humanitarian vehicles, and destroy warehouses storing humanitarian aid.

The Russian Federation is attacking not only Ukraine, but also the United Nations, which is assisting our country in addressing the humanitarian crisis. In recent months alone, Russian strikes have caused significant damage to warehouses and storage facilities used by the United Nations World Food Programme, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the World Health Organization. As a result of these attacks, Russia has destroyed humanitarian aid worth millions of dollars, depriving hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians of access to life-saving assistance. Particularly egregious are the deliberate attacks on clearly marked UN vehicles transporting humanitarian supplies and personnel.

The situation also remains dire in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia. The inaction of the occupation authorities and systematic violations of international humanitarian law have left millions of Ukrainians, who are effectively held hostage by the Kremlin regime, on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its gratitude to all partners for their support for the humanitarian response in Ukraine and for their daily efforts to save the lives of our citizens and provide them with essential assistance.

We particularly recognize the important role of international organizations, in particular the agencies of the United Nations system, which provide humanitarian assistance and support Ukrainians in the hardest-hit and frontline areas.

It is symbolic that, on this very day, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, together with his team, is in Kherson – a city where humanitarian support is needed perhaps more than anywhere else today.

Ukraine remains committed to humanitarian ideals and principles. Despite all the challenges caused by the war, we remain, as always, ready to help others in need.