Partnership delivers life-saving transplants for patients even in the most challenging circumstances

Ukraine’s closed airspace eliminated all direct international flights, forcing complex multi-country routing for every shipment. Many international logistics providers refused to enter Ukraine due to internal security policies, stopping instead at border crossings and requiring registry staff to collect shipments themselves. This added time, risk, and potential temperature deviations.

The Ukrainian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is the country’s only active charitable organization in this field. The requirement was clear: door-to-door delivery with continuous temperature control, no transshipment points, and the capability to navigate complex international routing under extreme conditions.

“Even with ongoing disruption in the country, these patients can’t wait. They need it now, and we can deliver.”

— Vadym Bondarchuk, Business Development Manager, World Courier

World Courier’s global network includes an established presence in Ukraine, enabling operations where other international providers decline to enter. Unlike competitors who stop at borders, World Courier delivers door-to-door, maintaining custody and temperature control throughout the entire journey.

Each shipment receives comprehensive operational planning with detailed routing documentation specifying every step: flight numbers, train schedules, hotels, transition points, and emergency contacts. Couriers must arrive one day before pickup, and multiple contingency options are prepared for each route.

The technical execution is exacting. Stem cells travel in World Courier’s global thermal containers with real-time monitoring. Shipments remain with the courier throughout (hand-carry only, never entering cargo compartments). For routes exceeding 10 hours of driving, two-driver teams ensure continuous movement. Primary routing optimizes through Poland and Germany, with ground transport via dedicated vehicles or train connections from Warsaw and Budapest hubs.

Regulatory complexity spans multiple countries. Pre-clearance letters go to customs and airport authorities. Specialized T330 forms satisfy collection center requirements. Coordination involves bone marrow registries, hospitals, and customs officials across borders. Low-value invoicing requires special customs procedures, and protocols prevent X-ray exposure.

Experienced couriers trained in biological materials handle these high-stakes shipments, equipped to solve problems in real time. When a recent Pisa pickup faced complications, the courier identified alternative routing, maintaining the delivery schedule.

“We are very happy that we can provide a little child with a chance to live a normal life. In this case, we are part of that support. We are proud to have these shipments because we are saving real lives.”

World Courier has completed over 20 bone marrow shipments to date with a 100% on-time delivery record and zero temperature deviations.

Spain to Ukraine: 26 hours. Multi-country routing maintained strict temperature parameters across international borders, delivering within the critical 48-hour window.

Ukraine to India: 48 hours. Complex export logistics from a conflict zone to Delhi achieved zero delays and zero temperature deviations, demonstrating bidirectional capability as a Ukrainian donor served an international patient.

Italy to Ukraine: Described as “one of the toughest” deliveries, this shipment from Pisa required alternative routing and faced region-related train disruptions, yet still delivered within the required timeframe.

World Courier’s specialized cold chain expertise, global network, and operational commitment enable life-saving bone marrow transplants to proceed even in the most challenging circumstances. The partnership proves that when geography and geopolitics create seemingly impossible barriers, specialized logistics expertise can still deliver what matters most: a patient’s chance at survival.