During this winter – the harshest in a decade – Ukraine has faced a massive humanitarian challenge. For dozens of days in a row, shelling of energy and residential infrastructure has left millions of people without heating. According to the UN, around 10.8 million Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian aid, with over 3.3 million remaining internally displaced persons. Among them are elderly people, those with disabilities, people with chronic illnesses, and families who have evacuated from frontline areas. Citizens continue to suffer from the consequences of the destruction: severe winter frosts only exacerbate chronic problems with electricity supply and heating.
The scale of needs and UNHCR’s plans
Over the years of full-scale war, UNHCR and its partners have provided emergency assistance to around 10 million people, including shelter, legal and psychological support. By 2026, the Organisation plans to assist at least a further 2 million internally displaced and affected families within the country. These plans form part of Ukraine’s comprehensive Humanitarian Response Plan, which identifies over 10.8 million people in need of support. UNHCR representatives emphasise that assistance must be targeted and complement the efforts of state authorities.
During his visit to Ukraine in February, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Saleh, visited Kyiv, as well as the frontline cities of Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv. He spoke with families who had survived drone and rocket strikes and observed the provision of assistance at transit centres for displaced persons (humanitarian kits, legal aid for those who had lost their documents, and support for the repair of damaged homes). He also held meetings with Ukrainian leaders – in particular, the President and government officials – discussing the needs of frontline communities and the importance of continued international support.
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Humanitarian response: emergency support and evacuations
UNHCR and its partners are actively responding to new attacks and the rising number of displaced people. In the first two months of 2026, following further intense shelling in the east of the country, UNHCR’s local partners provided assistance to hundreds of people – distributing emergency tents, insulation materials and essential items. Meanwhile, evacuations from the most vulnerable areas are continuing. In February, volunteers and government services registered around 11,000 displaced people (at least 61% of whom were women) via crossing points in Dnipro and other cities, although some families remain within their own regions, not far from home. In the Kharkiv region, the number of new displaced persons has risen by almost half compared to January (to 100–150 per day), indicating a worsening humanitarian situation. In all these locations, UNHCR and local NGOs are working in transit centres, collective centres and rapid evacuation points, providing people with emergency supplies, psychological support and immediate medical assistance. At the same time, UNHCR is setting up legal advice centres on the ground: these are visited by those who have lost their documents, as well as displaced persons seeking to apply for state assistance.
Social support and the repair of damaged homes
An important part of UNHCR’s response is supporting social initiatives. UNHCR is strengthening its cooperation with Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy and local authorities, helping to improve access to social services and benefits for vulnerable groups. The organisation helps thousands of families receive financial assistance – for example, in January and February 2026, over 35,000 people received payments from UNHCR totalling approximately $8.4 million. These grants are specifically targeted at those who have lost their homes or jobs due to hostilities, as well as those who have recently returned to de-occupied communities. UNHCR also assists people in restoring their rights: it provides legal support to those seeking compensation for damaged or destroyed homes, and works with government bodies to develop digital solutions to improve the register of internally displaced persons. In 2025, the number of displaced people who received assistance with home repairs exceeded 25,000.
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