---
title: "UN Prepares to Move Humanitarian Supplies for Ukraine into Underground Storage After Destruction of Ten Warehouses"
description: "The UN is considering moving humanitarian supplies for Ukraine into underground storage after the destruction of ten of the organization's warehouses as a result of Russian strikes. The losses were not provided for in the 2026 budget."
date: 2026-09-15T23:22:05.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/un-underground-storage-humanitarian-aid-ukraine
tags: [un, humanitarian-aid, ukraine, russia-strikes, underground-storage, food-security]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# UN Prepares to Move Humanitarian Supplies for Ukraine into Underground Storage After Destruction of Ten Warehouses

![Loading of UN humanitarian supplies for Ukraine: volunteers hand over aid boxes as part of transferring stockpiles to underground storage facilities](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/16/oon-podzemnye-hranilishcha-gumanitarnoy-pomoshchi-ukraina/oon-podzemnye-hranilishcha-gumanitarnoy-pomoshchi-ukraina-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The UN is considering moving humanitarian supplies for Ukraine into underground storage after a series of Russian strikes
- Since the beginning of 2026, ten UN warehouses have been destroyed, with cargo worth millions of dollars lost
- The losses were not provided for in the 2026 aid budget of $2.3 billion
- The UN warned of a possible 'hardest winter' for Ukraine due to strikes on energy infrastructure
- Attacks on ports and ships threaten global food security

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine stated that the organization is considering a fundamental change in its approach to storing humanitarian aid within the country. According to him, against the backdrop of a series of Russian strikes on UN convoys and warehouses, the organization is forced to seek ways to protect its supplies from further attacks. The main option under discussion is the relocation of humanitarian cargo into underground facilities, which are less susceptible to destruction during aerial strikes. The decision to switch to such a storage format is at the stage of being worked out and has not been finally adopted.

### Scale of losses to humanitarian infrastructure

According to UN data, since the beginning of 2026, ten of the organization's warehouses, which stored humanitarian aid, have been completely destroyed as a result of Russian strikes. The value of the destroyed cargo is estimated at millions of dollars. These losses were the direct trigger for a review of the logistics strategy: the organization acknowledged that traditional above-ground warehouse complexes do not provide a sufficient level of protection in the face of ongoing attacks. The transition to underground storage is being considered as a measure capable of minimizing the risk of similar losses in the future.

### Impact on the 2026 budget

The particular acuteness of the situation is underscored by the fact that the losses suffered by the UN's humanitarian infrastructure were not provided for in the organization's aid budget for 2026, the total volume of which is $2.3 billion. This means that restoring the destroyed warehouses and replenishing the destroyed supplies will require additional funds that are not included in the current financial plan. In a situation where every unit of aid is critically important for the population, unforeseen expenses on restoring logistics create additional pressure on the already limited resources of the program.

### Warning of the 'hardest winter'

Earlier, the UN warned that the coming winter could be the hardest for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war. Russian strikes on energy infrastructure create a real threat that millions of people will be left without electricity, heating, and water supply. In the low winter temperatures, such a situation could escalate into a full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe, which would multiply the need for humanitarian aid and, accordingly, for reliable mechanisms for its storage and distribution.

### Threat to global food security

In addition to the direct consequences for the population of Ukraine, the UN also acknowledged that Russian attacks on port infrastructure and vessels pose a threat to global food security. The disruption of supply chains for grain and other agricultural products from the Ukrainian market affects prices and food availability in other countries, especially in vulnerable regions. Thus, strikes on Ukraine's humanitarian and logistics infrastructure have an effect that extends far beyond national borders.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [UN considering moving aid for Ukraine into underground storage](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/oon-rozglyadae-perenesennya-dopomogi-ukrayini-1789509236.html) - Источник подтверждает ключевой тезис о рассмотрении ООН варианта перемещения гуманитарных запасов в подземные помещения после ударов по складам организации.
- [UN calls for action in the name of humanitarian rights: international aid system on the verge of collapse](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5/20250819-%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8B%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%B8%D0%BC%D1%8F-%D0%B3%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%89%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%B0) - Контекстный источник, подтверждающий общую напряжённость в системе международной гуманитарной помощи и призывы ООН к защите гуманитарных прав.
- [UN: more than $4 ... needed to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in Europe](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0/20240115-%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%BD-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%8C-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BC-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B0%D0%BC-%D0%B2-%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%89%D1%8C-%D0%B2-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B5-4-%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2) - Контекстный источник, подтверждающий общую напряжённость в системе международной гуманитарной помощи и призывы ООН к защите гуманитарных прав.
- [More than 90 trucks with UN aid arrived in Syria](https://www.aa.com.tr/ru/%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80/%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8E-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B1%D1%8B%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B5-90-%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D1%81-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%89%D1%8C%D1%8E-%D0%BE%D0%BE%D0%BD/2148103) - Источник о гуманитарных поставках ООН в Сирию. Не имеет прямой связи с темой Украины, использован только как общий контекст деятельности ООН.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Why is the UN considering moving humanitarian supplies into underground storage?
**A:** The reason is a series of Russian strikes, as a result of which ten UN warehouses in Ukraine have been destroyed since the beginning of 2026, and the aid cargo stored there has been destroyed. The organization believes that underground facilities will provide a higher level of protection against aerial attacks.

### Q: What is the scale of the losses suffered by the UN?
**A:** According to the organization, ten warehouses were destroyed, and the value of the destroyed humanitarian cargo is estimated at millions of dollars. The specific amount is not disclosed in public statements.

### Q: Do these losses affect the UN's 2026 budget?
**A:** Yes. The losses were not provided for in the 2026 aid budget, which amounts to $2.3 billion. Restoring the warehouses and replenishing supplies will require additional funds beyond those allocated in the financial plan.

### Q: What does the UN say about the coming winter in Ukraine?
**A:** The UN warned that the winter of 2026–2027 could be the hardest since the start of the full-scale war due to strikes on energy infrastructure. People risk being left without electricity, heating, and water, which, in low temperatures, could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.

### Q: How do strikes on Ukraine affect global food security?
**A:** The UN acknowledged that Russian attacks on ports and ships disrupt the supply chains of Ukrainian products to the global market, posing a threat to global food security, especially in vulnerable countries.