In October 2025, the Humanitarian Response Plan for the Autumn-Winter Period will be launched in Ukraine. Over the next six months – until March 2026 – international humanitarian organisations plan to provide assistance to 1.7 million people who are most affected by the effects of hostilities, unstable energy supply and cold weather. The total funding required to implement the plan is US$277.7 million.
Read also: Funding for Civil Society Organisations in Ukraine – Challenges and Solutions
Worsening of the situation due to the destruction of energy infrastructure
In 2025, Russia resumed large-scale shelling of energy facilities, causing significant disruptions in heat and electricity supply in many regions of Ukraine. In some settlements, people were left without electricity for more than 20 hours a day. The frontline areas, particularly in the east and south, suffered the most damage, including to residential properties, which made winterisation more difficult.
The most vulnerable remain internally displaced persons, the elderly, families with children, persons with disabilities, and those living in temporary or damaged buildings. Humanitarian organisations estimate that by the winter of 2025-2026, more than 1.7 million people will be in conditions that threaten their health and safety.
Read also: Kyiv real estate market. Prices, trends, eOselya and the impact of IDPs
Humanitarian response priorities and strategy
The Winter Response Plan is coordinated across 11 humanitarian response sectors and aims to address critical basic needs. Its structure is adapted to the needs of specific areas, settlement types and population categories.
The main priorities include rapid response to emergencies, provision of emergency housing and shelters, and supply of warm clothes and fuel. In addition, the Group will intensify its efforts to provide financial assistance to pay for utilities and fuel, giving people more flexibility in choosing how to heat their homes.
The plan takes into account the need to cover residents of collective centres and institutions that are not connected to district heating. The plan provides for the installation of heaters, thermal insulation systems and the deployment of mobile heating units.
Read also: Microplastics, drugs and multi-resistant bacteria found in the Danube
Strengthening coordination and cooperation with government agencies
The implementation of the plan is closely coordinated with the Ukrainian authorities, including the Ministry of Recovery, SES, regional administrations and communities. This allows us to avoid duplication of efforts, allocate resources optimally and ensure that we are targeting assistance where it is most needed.
The participation of international and national humanitarian organisations that already have a presence in the regions and have the necessary mechanisms for effective logistics, monitoring and reporting will also play an important role in the implementation of the plan. By working together, it is expected that support will be provided before the lowest temperatures, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Read also: 3.5 million people received assistance in Ukraine in the first months of 2025 – OCHA Ukraine report
Needs assessment and monitoring of aid effectiveness
Humanitarian partners will continuously monitor the situation, including the condition of shelter, access to heating sources and the needs of the population for various forms of assistance. This will be done using information from local authorities, field staff and ad hoc assessments, including data on collective centres and places of compact settlement.
The monitoring system will allow us to quickly adapt our actions in the event of an escalation of the situation, deterioration of weather conditions or new attacks on energy infrastructure. The plan also provides for flexibility in redirecting resources according to priority needs.
Read also: How green jobs are shaping Ukraine’s new economy
