Ukraine simplifies medicine import controls after Russian strikes on pharmaceutical warehouses

Why it matters

Repeated Russian strikes on pharmaceutical warehouses have disrupted medicine supplies in Ukraine, including products from major international manufacturers. The streamlined import procedure is meant to reduce bottlenecks and keep pharmacies and hospitals stocked while preserving the existing quality and safety standards. The government also frames the change as part of broader efforts to make the medicine supply chain more resilient to wartime disruptions.

What happened

The Ukrainian government adopted a decision to simplify control procedures for imported medicines, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky announced. Under the new rules, an authorized representative of the importing company can independently verify that a shipment matches its accompanying documents and conduct a visual inspection of packaging with mandatory photographic documentation. The results are sent to the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control (Derzhliksluzhba), which issues a conclusion on the quality of the medicines. If the same batch of medicines is re-imported into Ukraine, the control procedure is shortened to one working day. The government described the changes as part of systematic work to increase the flexibility and resilience of medicine supply in Ukraine.

The simplification comes after Russian attacks repeatedly damaged pharmaceutical warehouses and storage facilities for critical medicines. Since the beginning of September 2026, at least four such warehouses have been hit: the Biokon logistics complex in the Kyiv region, the Universal Logistic complex, the Optima-Farm warehouse, and the BaDM warehouse. The Biokon complex stored medicines from Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, and Teva. According to Forbes Ukraine, the combined area of the struck warehouses exceeds 95,000 square meters. Biokon estimated its product losses at more than 15 billion hryvnias and halted operations. On October 2, a Venta LTD warehouse in Hostomel was struck, and on October 4, Russia destroyed the Kusum plant in Sumy.

The Ministry of Health has not recorded a systemic shortage but acknowledged regional disruptions in August and September, including with the thyroid medicines Euthyrox and L-Thyroxine, citing warehouse destruction and uneven supplies of imported medicines among the causes. Bayer confirmed disruptions with some of its medicines, saying the products are already in Ukraine but going through regulatory and certification procedures before reaching distributors.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

Ukrainian outlets frame the simplification as a direct response to Russian attacks on pharmaceutical warehouses and storage facilities. They center Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky as the announcer of the new rules and emphasize that state quality control and medicine safety requirements remain in place.

Background

Since early September 2026, repeated Russian strikes have hit pharmaceutical warehouses and production sites across Ukraine. At least four warehouses with a combined area of more than 95,000 square meters have been damaged, destroying stocks from major international manufacturers including Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, and Teva. One operator estimated product losses above 15 billion hryvnias and stopped operations. The Ministry of Health has not declared a systemic shortage but has noted regional disruptions with specific medicines, including Euthyrox and L-Thyroxine, attributing them in part to warehouse destruction and uneven imports.