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Homes under fire. How Ukraine is rebuilding homes during the war

The war has destroyed or damaged over 2.5 million residential properties in Ukraine, leaving millions of people without adequate living conditions. In response to this crisis, humanitarian organisations have rolled out large-scale support programmes covering emergency shelter, housing repairs and the development of long-term solutions. Data for the fourth quarter of 2025 shows how the approach to housing assistance is evolving and what results have already been achieved.

unhcr-ukraine-emergency-shelter-housing-assistance-factsheet-q4-2025
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The extent of the damage and the need for housing

The issue of housing has become a key concern for people who have remained in their homes, were forced to leave, or have returned following evacuation. Surveys of refugees and internally displaced persons show that access to housing and opportunities to earn a living are key factors in the decision to return. In this context, housing assistance goes beyond short-term support and becomes part of long-term recovery.

Approaches to assistance take different situations into account. Some people need urgent repairs following shelling. Others are trying to restore damaged homes. There are also those who have been living in displacement for a long time and are looking for stable housing options.

Emergency accommodation and urgent repairs

Since the start of the full-scale war, over 565,000 people have received materials for emergency home repairs. In 2025, over 78,000 households received aid in the form of shelter kits. The work covered hundreds of communities across twenty regions, focusing on areas that are regularly subjected to shelling.

These are basic items that enable damaged windows or roofs to be quickly sealed off and help people get through the cold season. Technical assistance with installation was provided for some families, as not everyone is able to carry out such work themselves.

At the same time, support was provided for civilian infrastructure. Educational, medical and administrative buildings are being restored to maintain access to essential services in communities.

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Housing regeneration as part of long-term solutions

Another area of focus is major repairs. In 2025, nearly three thousand households received assistance through contracted construction companies. A further two thousand families received building materials or funds to purchase them.

Such repairs do not merely patch up damage, but restore homes to a condition suitable for permanent residence. In cases where homes have been completely destroyed, modular homes are installed. In 2025, over a hundred such homes were installed, enabling families to remain on their land.

Mobile teams work directly within communities, helping people with repairs to roofs, doors and windows. This approach allows for a swift and targeted response.

Housing for internally displaced persons

A significant proportion of the programmes are aimed at supporting internally displaced persons. Collective accommodation centres are being renovated, with engineering systems being modernised and thermal insulation and living conditions being improved.

In 2025, the renovation of several large centres was completed, with a number of other facilities currently undergoing refurbishment. This not only improves the quality of life but also increases the number of available places.

At the same time, rural houses are being restored for use by displaced persons. Over 1,400 such houses have been renovated in the past year. There is also a housing rental scheme in place, which covers costs for six months and includes legal support for drawing up contracts.

Social housing is seen as a more stable solution. Hundreds of places for long-term accommodation have already been created under these programmes.

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Coordination with the state compensation scheme for damaged housing plays a key role. The repair of communal areas in apartment blocks enables flat owners to access compensation. In 2025, over 1,700 households were able to submit claims following such works.

Pilot projects also provide assistance to people who are unable to complete the procedures independently or whose damage exceeds the compensation limits. This combination of humanitarian aid and state mechanisms creates a more flexible recovery system.

Infrastructure reconstruction and community development

Housing assistance goes hand in hand with the restoration of social infrastructure. By 2025, dozens of facilities will have been renovated, including administrative service centres, social welfare institutions and other buildings vital to local communities.

Such projects impact not only living conditions but also access to services, which forms the basis for people’s return and the stabilisation of communities.

Cooperation with the authorities spans both national and regional levels. Agreements signed with regional administrations and ministries enable the coordination of efforts and help avoid duplication of assistance.

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Олексій Захаров
Олексій Захаров
Editor | 17 years experience in media. Worked as a journalist at Vgorode.ua, a video editor at ‘5 Channel,’ a chief editor at Gloss.ua and ‘Nash Kyiv,’ and as the editor of the ‘Life’ section at LIGA.Net.

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