As Russian attacks on Ukraine's drug supply chain leave pharmacy shelves empty for weeks, Ukrainians living with chronic illnesses have done something they probably never imagined: asking strangers online to buy their medicine and have it shipped to them. As Russia escalated its attacks on businesses in Ukraine, including drug manufacturers and distributors, Ukrainians with chronic illnesses took to social media to ask people in other cities less affected by the attacks to buy drugs that had run out in their local pharmacies. One thread user wrote: “Is there anyone in Odessa who can help? I need someone to pick up medicine from a pharmacy and send it through Nova Express. This is the only pharmacy that has a critical medication for my mother. Photo: Volodymyr Tresov/UkraineForm/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

As Russian attacks on Ukraine's drug supply chain leave pharmacy shelves empty for weeks, Ukrainians living with chronic illnesses have done something they probably never imagined: asking strangers online to buy their medicine and have it shipped to them. As Russia escalated its attacks on businesses in Ukraine, including drug manufacturers and distributors, Ukrainians with chronic illnesses took to social media to ask people in other cities less affected by the attacks to buy drugs that had run out in their local pharmacies. One thread user wrote: “Is there anyone in Odessa who can help? I need someone to pick up medicine from a pharmacy and send it through Nova Express. This is the only pharmacy that has a critical medication for my mother. Photo: Volodymyr Tresov/UkraineForm/NurPhoto via Getty Images.