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Humanitarian supplies stored for the winter in Kherson burned in a Russian drone attack, according to the Ukrainian Red Cross. The fire at the organization's warehouse also affected stock kept for emergency repairs following Russian strikes. No staff or volunteers were injured in the attack, and Red Cross teams continue to operate in Kherson and Kherson Oblast.

The ongoing war consists of daily Russian strikes on cities far from the frontlines, causing civilian suffering while Russia's territorial gains remain slow and costly. The burned stock included winter equipment, medical supplies, and blankets. The attack took place on the evening of August 23. The fire caused damage or destruction to aid worth nearly UAH 28 million ($626,000), the Red Cross reported.

Part of the stock comprised equipment and materials for the autumn and winter periods, while another part was reserved for rapid response to Russian shelling, encompassing materials for temporarily covering damaged buildings. The warehouse also held medical supplies, blankets, hygiene kits, and equipment for supplying water and electricity.

A firefighter directed water onto the burning Ukrainian Red Cross warehouse in Kherson on August 23, 2026. The de-occupied part of Kherson Oblast is under constant Russian attack with various weapons. Authorities in the region report daily civilian casualties and damage. Over 11,000 small-drone attacks on civilians have been documented by Ukrainian prosecutors since 2024, with nearly half of these incidents occurring in Kherson Oblast.

The Ukrainian Red Cross had previously warned that Russian forces subjected its facilities to unprecedented attacks in July, impeding its ability to respond swiftly and deliver aid to those in need. Russian forces destroyed a Red Cross humanitarian aid warehouse in Kherson on December 20, 2023, and a World Health Organization medical warehouse in Dnipro was burned this summer. Additionally, Kyiv Oblast warehouse holding HIV-prevention supplies was also targeted.