Ukraine Cancer Relief

Our Oncology Program

‍

Founded February 27th, 2022—the day of the Kharkiv Centre for Oncology bombing—our oncology program provides cancer care to thousands of patients in Ukraine.

By addressing critical gaps in medication access, storage, and care, this program has offered a lifeline to those who would otherwise have no options.

The Urgent Cancer Need in Ukraine:

‍

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Ukraine, with cases rising due to poor living conditions, stress, and limited healthcare access. The demand for life-saving cancer medications far exceeds what state programs can provide.

Why Cancer Relief in Ukraine Is Crucial

The Challenges Cancer Patients Face in Ukraine:
  1. Financial Barriers: The war has left families financially devastated. Many cannot afford life-saving medications or therapies, which can cost upwards of $1,000 per dose for drugs like Trastuzumab.
  2. Disrupted Supply Chains: Key medications are often unavailable in pharmacies or medical institutions due to war-induced logistical challenges and budget deficits.
  3. Healthcare System Overload: Oncology centers are overcrowded, forcing patients to wait months for treatment or rely on costly private clinics.
  4. Late Diagnoses and Rising Mortality: Limited access to screening and diagnostic services results in 35% of patients being diagnosed at stage 4 cancer, severely reducing survival chances.

Ukraine Cancer Relief Projects:

At Mission Kharkiv, we’ve established a comprehensive system to address the critical needs of cancer patients in Ukraine. Our efforts ensure that patients receive the medications, resources, and support they need to fight their battles with dignity and hope:

  1. Cancer Medication Support. We partner with leading global organizations like Direct Relief and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to source and distribute donated cancer medications. To date, we have provided over 35,000 units of life-saving drugs, ensuring free access to treatments that would otherwise be out of reach for thousands of patients.
  2. Cold-Chain Storage: The Pharma Bunker. To maintain the efficacy of temperature-sensitive medications, we’ve established an underground Pharma Bunker equipped with refrigerated chambers. This facility, powered by autonomous energy systems, ensure that drugs like chemotherapy agents remain viable even during power outages.
  3. Psychological Support (MHPSS). Cancer patients face immense psychological strain, exacerbated by the hardships of war. Our Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) program provides individual counseling, group therapy sessions, and resources to help patients and their families cope with the emotional and mental toll of their diagnosis and treatment.

The Impact So Far

2,367
Patients Helped
35,591
Medications Delivered
70%
Of our patients are women
$36 Million+
Worth of cancer medications provided
592
Internally Displaced Persons
1,491
Disabled

Cancer Relief Testimonials

"After losing my job due to the war, I couldn’t afford the tests to confirm my diagnosis, let alone treatment. Mission Kharkiv gave me the medications I needed to begin care and a chance to survive stage 3 breast cancer. Their support has been a lifeline in my darkest hours."

Maria, 46

Stage 3 Breast Cancer

"My battle with cancer began during the full-scale invasion. The treatment costs were overwhelming, and I couldn’t afford to start care. Thanks to Mission Kharkiv, I received the medication I desperately needed and a real chance to fight for my life. Today, I am on the road to recovery."

Anna, 44

Breast Cancer Survivor

"When I was diagnosed with cancer, the cost of treatment seemed impossible to manage. But Mission Kharkiv stepped in, providing Trastuzumab and the chance to begin my fight. I’m forever grateful to them for giving me hope and a chance at recovery."

Olga, 68

Breast Cancer

Help Us

We partner with GlobalGiving, a 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID: 30-0108263), to ensure your donation is tax-deductible. US taxpayers receive an immediate tax receipt, and UK donors paying in GBP can maximize their impact with Gift Aid.

‍

Your support delivers vital aid while offering meaningful tax benefits, making giving simple and impactful.

Make a Tax-Deductible Donation

Transparency Promise

Mission Kharkiv is serious about transparency. Our system tracks every step—from registration to medication distribution—and we make it visible to our donors in real time. Patient data is also protected through encryption and secure storage, and is accessible only to authorized team members. We are committed to safeguarding both patient and donor data under GDPR standards while allowing you to make sure your donations get whole to where they’re needed most.

We’ve implemented a robust, transparent assistance model to ensure that every donation makes a measurable impact.

  • Patient needs are verified by oncologists through a two-stage documentation process.
  • Real-time tracking system ensure accountability for every drug distributed.
  • Donors can monitor the implementation of aid through secure, encrypted access to our databases.

Independent, responsive cancer aid

Sign up to receive news and updates from Mission Kharkiv on donation drives, mission progress, patient stories, and more.

We will keep your information safe and secure. Please see our Privacy Policy for details of how we use your information. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you! Your message has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.