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Direct Relief Surpasses $2.2 Billion in Aid for Ukraine

New funding for Ukraine’s Ministry of Health targets the "last mile" of medical logistics to ensure aid reaches hospitals and clinics nationwide; $60 million in medicine and supplies delivered in January 2026.

News

Ukraine Relief

Medical aid departs Direct Relief's warehouse bound for Ukraine in 2024. (Brianna Newport/Direct Relief)
By Tony Morain

Direct Relief—one of the world’s largest providers of charitable medical aid—announced today that its support for Ukraine has exceeded $2.2 billion, underscoring both the urgency of the ongoing crisis and the organization’s long-term commitment to supporting the country’s health system.

In the first weeks of 2026 alone, the California-based humanitarian nonprofit delivered $62 million in medicines and medical supplies to health facilities across Ukraine—resources that helped keep emergency rooms functioning, supported lifesaving surgeries, and ensured continuity of care nationwide.

Strengthening Ukrainian Health Systems

In addition to supplying medical aid, Direct Relief is investing in the systems that ensure care reaches those who need it most. The organization recently awarded more than $2 million to Ukraine’s Ministry of Health to strengthen the distribution network that gets donated medical aid into clinics and hospitals across the country.

This latest support builds on nearly $70 million in targeted financial assistance aligned with Ukraine’s public health priorities, including:

  • Building a Rehabilitation Workforce: A €1 million commitment to UNBROKEN University in Lviv, complementing extensive support for the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Center and the Protez Foundation to expand amputee care for patients recovering from war-related injuries.
  • Keeping Hospitals Operating During Outages: Purchasing backup power and battery systems that help facilities maintain continuity of care during blackouts.
  • Reaching Frontline and High-Need Communities: Support for mobile medical teams that have delivered more than 3,400 services to patients in areas with limited access.
  • Caring for Children: Specialized pediatric outreach and medical transport services reaching close to 25,000 children in high-need areas.
  • Expanding Mental Health Access: Funding for psychosocial support and trauma-informed training for providers and first responders.

Powered by Partnership

Direct Relief’s work in Ukraine is conducted in close collaboration with local healthcare providers and partners. Operations are coordinated from the organization’s headquarters and 3-acre distribution warehouse in California and its newly opened European base in Frankfurt, Germany—enabling rapid cross-border aid deliveries at scale.

Because Direct Relief accepts no government funding, its humanitarian impact is powered by partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers across the United States and Europe, as well as strategically aligned collaborations with public-sector agencies.

A longstanding example of this approach is Direct Relief’s partnership with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Grounded in a memorandum of understanding signed in 2010, the partnership spans both domestic and international emergency responses. In 2022, Direct Relief delivered emergency medical resources donated by California through Cal OES—including seven 50-bed field medical stations from state stockpiles—to support patient care in Ukraine. Direct Relief also assists California agencies during major disasters, including wildfires, by providing targeted medical aid and supporting search-and-rescue teams.

A Sustained Commitment

The scale of Direct Relief’s response reflects the severity of the humanitarian crisis continuing to unfold in Ukraine. The organization remains committed not only to meeting emergency demands but also to helping rebuild and strengthen the country’s health system for the long road ahead.

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