The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday it will supply thousands of doses of life-saving antiretroviral drugs to Ukraine to cover the needs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients in the country for the next 12 months.

The WHO, along with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Ukrainian authorities and other partners, has procured 209,000 packs of generic antiretroviral drug fixed-dose combination medication (TLD).

Ukraine has an estimated 260,000 people living with HIV, the second largest number in Europe after Russia, and prior to Moscow's "special military operation" around half of them were on antiretroviral treatment.

Last month, the U.N. agency for HIV/AIDS warned that Ukraine was left with less than a month's supply of drugs for HIV patients.

While there is no cure for HIV, antiretroviral medicines can control the virus and prevent onward sexual transmission to other people. Any disruption in treatment can lead to complications including drug resistance.

The first batch of the HIV drugs has crossed the Polish border into Ukraine and is about to be transported to HIV service facilities across the country, said the WHO.

(With input from Reuters)