The Ukrainian Red Cross has switched to a new system of financial support since April 2026. The multi-purpose assistance, which allowed each affected person to receive 10,800 hryvnias per family member, is no longer in effect. Instead, targeted assistance is provided in four priority areas: for residents of front-line territories, evacuees, families in need, and households that are rebuilding their homes. Let’s break down how much is paid in each category, in which regions the program operates, and how to apply through official channels only.
The program is implemented by the Society with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and national donor societies. The information below is based on the organization’s official data, published on redcross.org.ua, and profile messages about the April 2026 update.
Why the Red Cross Changed the Rules and What It Means for People
The transition to a targeted model was a response to funding constraints. The multi-purpose cash assistance for rapid response in front-line regions has been in effect since May 2025 and has covered over 2,670 families as of March 2026. The payment amount of 10,800 hryvnias per person remains, but the approach has changed: instead of one universal format for all affected people, there are four separate areas with different criteria and calculation periods. When resources decreased, the organization decided to focus on the four most acute situations rather than dispersing funds.
In practice, this means that not every affected person can receive payment. Priority is given to people who are in direct danger every day, have lost their homes, or have been forced to evacuate. If a family’s situation does not fall under any of the four areas, it is worth seeking support from other organizations – the UN, UNICEF, the Norwegian Refugee Council, or Caritas.
The program operates in nine most affected regions: Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Odesa. Residents of other regions cannot apply for these specific Red Cross payments, but they can seek other types of support from the organization – from food packages to social and psychological services.
Also read:
UN Abbreviations — What Do UNHCR, UNDP, UNEP, IAEA, and FAO Mean
Four Areas of Assistance and How Much is Paid
The first area is assistance to residents of front-line territories. The payment amount is 10,800 hryvnias per person, provided once and calculated for six months. Support is intended for those who live in areas of constant danger and have increased expenses for basic needs – food, medicine, utilities, transportation.
The second area is assistance for evacuees. The payment is 12,300 hryvnias per person, provided once. Those who were forced to leave due to shelling or a real threat and who registered at a transit center within 45 days of evacuation can use this assistance. This is the shortest application window, so it is necessary to react quickly.
The third area is assistance to families in need. This includes large families, people with disabilities, people over 65, veterans, demobilized soldiers, and single parents. Here, priority is given to the most vulnerable categories that have been affected by military actions. Payments can be made for a period of three to nine months.
The fourth area is financial assistance for housing reconstruction. The program has been in effect since 2024 in emergency situations when housing has been damaged as a result of hostilities. Payment amounts are calculated individually depending on the level of damage and the needs of the household.
Also read:
Ukrainian humanitarian organizations - social and medical assistance in peacetime and crisis
How to Apply to the Red Cross
You can apply in several ways. The easiest way is to call the Red Cross information center’s hotline at 0800 332 656. The call is free, and operators provide information about open programs in your region, check basic criteria, and direct you further. If your situation matches one of the areas, the application is submitted through the regional branch of the Society.
The second way is to contact the regional Red Cross organization directly. Contacts for all regional branches are published on the official website redcross.org.ua. You should not search for branches in search engines – there is a risk of getting on duplicate pages not related to the organization. The list on the official website remains the only reliable source.
The third option is to use the state platform eAssistance, through which several international organizations, including the Red Cross, UNICEF, UN, and NRC, accept applications. The platform works according to memorandums with the Ministry of Social Policy and requires verification through the “Diia” app.
The basic package of documents is standard for all areas: passport, identification code, certificate of displacement for migrants, documents about family composition. For assistance in rebuilding housing, confirmation of damage is added – an inspection report, photos, and a commission’s conclusion. For evacuees, the certificate from the transit center and adherence to the 45-day deadline are critical.
Also read:
IDP Assistance in 2026 — Who Will Receive 2000 and 3000 UAH and Why the Application Must Be Submitted by June 1
Fraud Around Assistance – How to Recognize
International organization programs work on the principle of “one person – one application”. If a person has already applied to one organization, duplicating the application to another will result in automatic rejection – applications are checked through a shared verification system. Therefore, it is worth considering in advance which program to apply to and not sending documents everywhere.
No official Red Cross program provides for the payment of commissions, registration fees, or other payments. If someone offers to “expedite the receipt” of payment for money, provide “guaranteed registration” through illegal channels, or asks for the password from the “Diia” app – this is fraud. Submitting an application is free, and the decision to pay is made by the organization itself based on criteria, not for a fee.
Registration on the website or through the hotline does not mean automatic receipt of assistance. The application is checked, and in case of refusal, the decision is final – re-application is possible only at the next stage of the program. Notifications about the status come via SMS – there is no need to call the operator every day to check.
Also read:
How Ukrainian NGOs Survive After the Closure of USAID
Questions and Answers
How much does the Red Cross pay in 2026?
It depends on the area: 10,800 hryvnias per person for residents of front-line territories (once for six months), 12,300 hryvnias for evacuees, individual calculations for families in need and assistance in rebuilding housing.
In which regions does the Red Cross financial assistance operate?
In nine regions: Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Odesa.
How to call the Red Cross to get assistance?
Free hotline of the Red Cross information center: 0800 332 656. Operators explain which programs are open in your region and whether you meet the criteria. The application is submitted through the regional branch or the eAssistance platform.
Can you apply to multiple organizations at the same time?
No. The rule “one person – one application” applies. If you have already applied to the Red Cross, UNICEF, UN, or NRC, duplicating the application to another organization will result in automatic rejection through the verification system.
