Russian Strike Destroys UN Humanitarian Aid Warehouse in Dnipro City, Killing Two People

Russia attacked a humanitarian aid warehouse belonging to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Dnipro city. At least two people were killed in the strike, and the warehouse sustained significant damage.

This was reported by UNHCR Representative in Ukraine Bernadette Castel-Hollingworth during a briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

On May 20, the warehouse, which is leased by UNHCR, was directly hit by a missile during a Russian airstrike on the city. According to information from the Air Force, the attack was carried out using an Iskander-M ballistic missile.

Approximately 900 pallets of basic humanitarian goods and shelter materials worth over $1 million prepared for distribution to displaced persons and those affected by the war in frontline regions were destroyed.

“This was the first such attack on a UNHCR facility since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. It not only deprived people of critically needed aid but also undermined the humanitarian response at a time when needs have never been greater. UNHCR extends its deepest condolences to the families of those affected by this attack, as well as all attacks on civilians… Repeated attacks on humanitarian workers while they are carrying out their duties are a clear violation of international law. Civilians and humanitarian workers must never be targeted,” she said.

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), at least 815 civilians were killed and another 4,174 were wounded during the first four months of the year — a 21% increase compared to the same period last year.

The Russian forces recently attacked two clearly marked UN convoys carrying humanitarian workers: one truck delivering aid in the Dnipropetrovsk region, whose driver was injured, and a convoy heading to Ostriv — one of the hardest-hit areas in the Kherson region.

Following the attack, Andrea de Domenico, the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Ukraine, who was in the attacked convoy traveling through territory controlled by Ukraine, stated that he did not understand who carried out the strike.

Shortly thereafter, the Russians showed several of their drone strikes against the UN in Kherson. The Russians justify strikes on civilian vehicles by claiming that the vehicles may be “dual-use.” The attack on the UN vehicles was no exception.