It is with profound sorrow and anger that we announce the death of our colleague, Volodymyr Shpek.
Volodymyr was critically injured five days ago in a drone attack while refuelling at a service station in Ukraine between Kherson and Mykolaiv. The explosion completely destroyed the structure. While our other colleague fortunately sustained only minor injuries, Volodymyr suffered severe injuries to his leg and back. Despite undergoing surgery and receiving medical care, his condition deteriorated in the following days. Today, we received the devastating news of his death.
Volodymyr was a valued colleague whose commitment, courage and dedication supported our humanitarian work in Ukraine since January 2026. We are heartbroken by this loss and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues as they face this grief.
Today, more than ever, we must reiterate a principle that cannot be ignored: civilians and humanitarian workers must never be a target. International humanitarian law exists to protect human life and dignity, especially in times of war, and it must be respected without exception.