United Nations in Ukraine

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Ukraine:

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Speech

29 December 2025

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres calls on world leaders to get "priorities straight" and in 2026 invest in development, not destruction.

As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads.Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate breakdown. And systemic violations of international law.A retreat from the very principles that bind us together as a human family. People everywhere are asking: Are leaders even listening? Are they ready to act.As we turn the page on a turbulent year, one fact speaks louder than words:Global military spending has soared to 2.7 trillion dollars, growing by almost 10%.That is thirteen times more than all development aid, equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of Africa.All, while conflict rages at levels unseen since World War II.On this new year, let’s resolve to get our priorities straight.A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars. Peace must prevail.It’s clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice.In 2026, I call on leaders everywhere: Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain.And I urge everyone who hears this message: Play your part.Our future depends on our collective courage to act.This new year, let’s rise together:For justice. For humanity. For peace.

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Press Release

02 October 2025

Ahead of winter: UNHCR will provide assistance to help the most vulnerable people in frontline regions get through the cold season

This winter, UNHCR’s response aims to help more than 389,000 war-affected people with specific vulnerabilities, including older people, people with disabilities, people with chronic illnesses and internally displaced people hosted in collective sites. The focus is primarily on people remaining in frontline areas of eastern and northern Ukraine, where the harsh winter season is compounded by war-damaged homes, disrupted power infrastructure, and limited access to critical services. “Preparing for winter means helping families stay resilient. They have endured so much already. By providing cash assistance, heating support and shelter repairs, UNHCR works so that the most vulnerable people make it through the winter in dignity and warmth,” said Alexander D. Mundt, Acting UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.UNHCR’s winter response programme, which is part of a larger inter-agency winter plan, aims to complement the Government efforts to support people in advance of winter. UNHCR, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Policy and the Pension Fund of Ukraine, will provide cash assistance to help families cover winter-specific needs such as solid fuel, warm clothing, and other essentials – prioritizing those who live within 20 km of the frontline or border areas. Last winter, UNHCR helped over 250,000 vulnerable people with cash assistance for seasonal needs. A survey amongst the receiving households showed that their top need was heating, and so 88% of the households spent the money on solid fuel. As the ongoing Russian attacks continue to damage civilian homes and energy infrastructure, the need to support families to keep their homes warm during winter remains urgent and critical. To address this, UNHCR will distribute insulation kits which include heaters, reflective insulation screens, plastic sheets, foam strips, and building tape, that allow both private households and collective sites accommodating internally displaced people to retain heat and reduce energy costs. In addition, sub-standard homes and collective sites will be repaired and insulated, with improvements to roofs, attics, doors, and with installation of modern triple-glazed windows, enabling better heat retention and energy efficiency. UNHCR will also provide and install solid fuel heaters in frontline communities where access to electricity is limited and support the insulation of heating pipes and upgrades to communal heating systems in collective sites. UNHCR’s response is made possible thanks to funding from government and private donors, including our top donors such as the European Union, Germany, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.Over the 2024–2025 winter, UNHCR implemented a comprehensive winterization plan to help displaced, war-affected, and other vulnerable populations in Ukraine cope during the harsh and cold season. In total, 314,000 multi-sectoral interventions were delivered, including cash assistance, shelter and housing insulation support, and the distribution of essential winter items.

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Press Release

10 December 2025

Ukrainian NGO Proliska is regional winner of UNHCR’s Nansen Award 2025

This award is not only a well-deserved recognition of Proliska, their entire staff and vital work – it is also a powerful acknowledgement of the tireless efforts and essential work of civil society across Ukraine. It honors the numerous NGOs, volunteers and communities whose critical contributions continue to shape and strengthen the humanitarian and recovery response during the full-scale war. In the aftermath of air strikes and shelling, also when it happens at night or in remote areas, Proliska is often among the first to respond, operating alongside state and municipal emergency responders. Proliska has helped to evacuate thousands of people from frontline areas, ensuring that the most vulnerable groups, like older people, persons with disabilities and families with few resources, are not forgotten. And for those unable or unwilling to flee, Proliska’s teams continues to deliver essential aid, like water, medical care, psychosocial support and critical supplies. “Across Ukraine, civil society and communities are doing indispensable work to support people in need. The courage and dedication of the Proliska team, often working in incredibly difficult and dangerous conditions, has saved countless lives and provided timely and dignified help to displaced people in their hours of greatest needs. Proliska’s work is truly emblematic of what it means to uphold humanity in the midst of a devastating war,” said Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, UNHCR’s Representative in Ukraine.Proliska has been UNHCR’s NGO partner since 2016 following the beginning of the war in 2014 and throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion. Remaining operational across the most heavily affected areas, currently the organization works across 13 regions with a staff of some 1,000 people. “It is a great honor to accept the Nansen Award on behalf of the entire team of the Humanitarian mission “Proliska”, meaning every employee and volunteer who, for 12 years of war in Ukraine, has worked for the sake of people in the most difficult circumstances. I am also glad that the Nansen Award returns to Ukraine once again, recognizing the immense scale of the humanitarian crisis, caused by Russia’s invasion,” said Yevgen Kaplin, head of Proliska.This is the third time that the Nansen Refugee Award is received in Ukraine. In 1998, Mustafa Dzhemilev, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, was the global Nansen Award laureate, honored for his commitment to the right of return of the Crimean Tatar people to their homeland. And in 2020, civil activist Tetiana Barantsova was awarded as regional winner in Europe for her work with displaced people with disabilities.Proliska joins four extraordinary individuals, winners of the global and other regional titles of the prestigious Nansen Refugee Award 2025. Established in 1954, the Nansen Award honours individuals, groups and organizations who go beyond the call of duty to protect refugees, internally displaced or stateless people. It is named after the Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen.“The Nansen Refugee Award celebrates extraordinary courage and compassion. This year’s laureates remind us that, even in dark times, compassion remains undimmed. Their unwavering commitment to protecting and uplifting displaced people offers hope and inspiration. They embody the spirit of Nansen — a belief that every person forced to flee, wherever they are, deserves dignity, safety and hope,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.The year’s global laureate of the Nansen Award, village chief Martin Azia Sodea from Cameroon has helped integrate 36,000 refugees from the Central African Republic. The other regional winners are: Pablo Moreno Cadena, a business leader in Mexico who has become a trailblazer for refugee inclusion in the country; Taban Shoresh, founder of The Lotus Flower, a women-led organization that supports conflict survivors in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; and Negara Nazari, an Afghan refugee and co-founder of the Ariana Learning Centre in Tajikistan, which is a school for young Afghan refugees who were unable to access education. The Nansen awards are made possible thanks to generous support from the Governments of Norway and Switzerland, the IKEA Foundation and the City and Canton of Geneva.

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Press Release

09 December 2025

Rising Civilian Casualties and Violations Amid Intensifying Hostilities in Ukraine — UN Report

“Our findings establish several worrying trends: rising civilian casualties in both frontline and urban areas, sustained attacks on energy infrastructure, and continued patterns of systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees,” said Danielle Bell, who heads the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).Between June and November 2025, civilian casualties rose significantly in both frontline and urban areas, with July marking the highest number of civilian deaths and injuries since April 2022. On 19 November, a large-scale combined drone–missile strike killed at least 36 civilians in Ternopil, marking the deadliest attack in western Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began.Frontline regions have experienced a severe deterioration in living conditions. Short-range drones, aerial bombs, and other munitions caused extensive damage to residential buildings and other vital civilian infrastructure, effectively rendering some of these areas uninhabitable and triggering new displacement. In some frontline towns, many hospitals and clinics were destroyed or forced to close, leaving residents without access to basic healthcare. Disruption of water, heating, and electricity further reduced the ability of civilians, particularly older persons and persons with disabilities, to remain in their homes.During October and November 2025, the Russian Federation launched eight large-scale, coordinated waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy system. These strikes triggered emergency power outages and daily electricity cuts in multiple regions, with scheduled power cuts lasting up to 18 hours per day. Some areas experienced interruptions in water services and heating lasting for many hours or days.Between May and August 2025, Ukraine and the Russian Federation conducted the largest exchanges of prisoners of war (POWs) since 2022, however, HRMMU observed no improvements in the treatment of those interned.“Systematic and widespread torture and ill-treatment of POWs is one of the most shocking and pervasive features of this war,” said Bell. “Of the 187 Ukrainian POWs recently freed by the Russian Federation, 185 provided accounts of severe beatings, stress positions, electric shocks, suffocation and dog attacks. 141 (75 percent) disclosed having been subjected to sexual violence. Interviewees also described harsh conditions of detention, limited medical care, and violence occurring during capture, transfer, admission to new facilities, and throughout internment.”HRMMU interviewed 137 POWs held by Ukraine, including 10 nationals of third countries. More than half, including 37 POWs captured this year, provided accounts of torture and ill-treatment during interrogation or transfer, before arrival at official internment facilities. HRMMU continued to receive unfettered access to internment facilities and continued to observe conditions of detention largely compliant with international norms.The report also highlights a rise in extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war. At least four incidents involving the killing of 10 Ukrainian servicepersons after capture by Russian forces were assessed as credible. It also recorded four executions of Russian POWs by Ukrainian armed forces, alongside credible allegations of three additional incidents currently under review. In territory of Ukraine under Russian Federation occupation, authorities continued to impose measures in violation of international humanitarian law. The report outlines worsening restrictions on freedom of movement, expression, religion, and access to independent information. Civilians faced increased pressure to adopt Russian citizenship, with daily life being almost impossible without a Russian passport. The report describes patterns of arbitrary arrest, prosecutions for criticism of the “special military operation”, the use of forced confessions, and the retroactive application of criminal laws.Property rights have also been significantly affected. Occupying authorities continued implementing legislation enabling the expropriation of residential property of Ukrainians deemed “abandoned”. As of November 2025, at least 5,557 homes had been registered as such in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and transferred to municipal ownership. Ukrainians displaced to Government-controlled territory reported being unable to participate in judicial proceedings to verify the status and retain ownership of their private property.Access to water further deteriorated in parts of occupied Donetsk region, where reduced water reservoir levels and ageing and/or damaged infrastructure necessitated water rationing. Households in some areas received running water only once every several days; many reported poor water quality and high costs associated with purchasing safe drinking water.The report highlights the continued efforts of the Ukrainian authorities and humanitarian actors to support civilians affected by the hostilities, including large-scale evacuations, establishment of transit centres, and delivery of medical, psychosocial, and legal assistance, despite extremely challenging – and increasingly dangerous – conditions, including attacks on humanitarian workers and a UN convoy.The report includes detailed findings and recommendations to the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and the international community.

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Press Release

03 December 2025

General Assembly demands return of Ukrainian children by Russia

The draft resolution during the emergency special session was approved by 91 votes in favour, 12 against and 57 abstentions, surpassing the required two-thirds majority of members present and voting.The resolution expresses deep concern about the fate of Ukrainian children separated from their families since 2014 – when Moscow annexed Crimea – including those transferred within occupied Ukrainian territory and those deported to Russia.It describes these acts as violations of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the forcible transfer or deportation of protected persons from occupied territory.Detailed resolutionIt “demands that the Russian Federation ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported,” and urges Moscow to cease any further practices of deportation, separation from families, changes of citizenship, adoption or placement in foster families, and indoctrination.The text also calls on the UN Secretary-General to step up his good offices, including through his Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, to coordinate UN action, engage with Russia on tracking down those taken, and to ensure access for international monitoring and humanitarian organizations.It also expressed support for international initiatives to secure the prompt return of Ukrainian children and for their rehabilitation and reintegration, including access to health care, psychosocial support and education.Abducted at gunpointOpening the meeting, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described the ordeal faced by Ukrainian children taken from their homes.“Imagine you’re a 16-year-old going about your day […] when suddenly soldiers armed with machine guns wearing balaclavas to mask their faces burst into your home,” she said.“They force you into your vehicle and drive you away in an unknown direction, and you find yourself stuck for months in a nightmare, with a different name.”She stressed that international law is unambiguous.“What we are witnessing therefore is not merely a tragedy of some children, but a violation of international law,” Ms. Baerbock said, citing Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.Question of humanityPresenting the draft, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa said the text was “not about politics…it is about humanity.”Amid Russia’s war of aggression, she said, children have been killed, injured, raped, separated from their families and deported.“It is unimaginable that someone could view children as war trophies,” she said, adding that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia.“Not a single child should be separated from their family,” she stressed.Source: UN news

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13 January 2026

Deadly Russian strikes push civilians deeper into winter crisis

The attacks have crippled energy systems and left millions without heating, electricity or water amid freezing temperatures, senior UN officials told the Security Council on Monday.Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told ambassadors the start of 2026 had brought “no peace or even respite to Ukraine, but renewed fighting and devastation.”“As temperatures plummet far below freezing, the Russian Federation has intensified its systematic attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” she said, noting that the strikes had killed and injured scores of civilians and deprived millions of electricity, heating and water for prolonged periods.The impact, she added, is felt most acutely by older people, children and those with limited mobility.Drone and missile onslaughtMs. DiCarlo cited a major overnight barrage between 8 and 9 January in which Russia reportedly launched 242 drones and 36 missiles.In Kyiv, at least four people were reportedly killed and 25 injured, including a paramedic who died while responding to an earlier strike, reportedly hit by a so-called “double-tap” attack.Nearly half of the capital was left without heating, and hundreds of thousands of residents were affected.Energy and residential facilities were also damaged in western Lviv region, near the Polish border, where an intermediate-range ballistic missile known as “Oreshnik” was reportedly used for the second time since 2024.The weapon is believed capable of carrying nuclear payloads, heightening international concern.Ports and shipping have also come under attack. On 8 January, two foreign-flagged civilian vessels were struck by Russian drones in the Odesa region.Two people were reportedly killed and eight injured in subsequent port attacks that damaged storage facilities and containers. Odesa was hit again on Sunday, in what Ms. DiCarlo described as a “concerning escalation” targeting Ukraine’s port infrastructure and commercial shipping. Humanitarian consequencesThe humanitarian impacts were outlined by Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Humanitarian Sector at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).He said large-scale strikes were pushing “the very means of winter survival to the brink,” as temperatures dropped to nearly minus 10 degrees Celsius.“What makes these attacks especially devastating is that they cripple the systems that keep civilians alive during winter,” he said.In Kryvyi Rih, families have been melting snow for washing and heating water over candles during prolonged power cuts.In Kyiv, more than 1,200 heated safe spaces are operating, alongside 68 additional heating points set up by emergency services and humanitarian partners. Displacement continuesCivilians continue to flee frontline areas under dangerous conditions, particularly from the Donetsk region, with many arriving in safer areas needing shelter, medical care and winter assistance. Humanitarian access remains constrained.According to UN estimates, 10.8 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance.On Tuesday, the UN and partners are set to launch a $2.31 billion humanitarian appeal for 2026 to support 4.12 million people facing the most severe needs.Both officials reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. “They are unacceptable, unjustifiable, and must stop immediately,” Ms. DiCarlo said.“Civilians who are enduring these attacks need more than statements of concern from this council. They need concrete action to reduce civilian harm and ensure that humanitarian support continues to reach people when they need it most,” Mr. Rajasingham added.Source: UN news

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Story

07 January 2026

Drones, fear and exhaustion: The daily reality of providing aid to Ukraine

Almost four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, aid teams continue to adapt to the lethal reality of working in a modern war zone. For frontline workers like Oleg Kemin from the UN World Food Programme (WFP), this involves travelling deep into disputed territory along the 1,000-kilometre contact line separating Ukraine from Russia, where attack drones are a deadly menace.In an exclusive interview with UN News, Oleg describes his work as a security officer and the challenges he faces, trying to deliver food aid to vulnerable communities.There’s little respite even away from the front, he notes, with cities including the capital Kyiv shelled repeatedly and pitched into darkness – as was the case just before we spoke to him.His conversation with Daniel Johnson has been edited for length and clarity:Oleg Kemin: “Every night like this, with the shelling attacks, it's quite difficult for us; the energy infrastructure of Ukraine is under fire, so each such attack can mean new blackouts all across the country. Also, there are new victims which creates additional tensions.Let's say that people who are spending sleepless nights in the shelters cannot be as productive as usual. As a Security Operations Officer for the UN, my job is to track those constant air raid alerts, trying to keep our staff safe and warning them about the alerts.UN News: How do you cope with the constant threat of attack?Oleg Kemin: Next month it will be four years since the war started. I still remember the first attacks, I still remember the first air raid alert and it was very scary. It's impossible to get used to it, especially when you can see the damage and destruction, but people are somehow getting used to everything.But from time to time, when you’ve been at work and you are tired, you do not hear the air raid alert on your phone app, or the air raid siren in the street. Other times you’re waking up with the first explosion and it’s impossible to move to the shelter, because there is already an attack happening.You create mechanisms - not to cope - but to understand the situation more clearly, and you follow emergency procedures. For example, if the attack is over, should we start the headcount and assess needs?All across the country, people who are working in the energy companies and the water companies are doing their best to maintain normal life as much as possible, to restore electricity. In the capital, we have more opportunities to make repairs very quickly, but in some cities - even the left bank of Kyiv - was without electricity for quite a long time.UN News: Where are needs greatest in Ukraine today?Oleg Kemin: Some of the most vulnerable communities are in Pokrovsk, Kupyansk, Konstantynivka and Dobropillya – they’re all in the news today. We used to send aid convoys to these locations. It's really sad to see with the gradual moving of the frontline, how life starts to escape from these cities.On your first trip it's a normal city, but then the shops start to close, more building become damaged and there are fewer people on the streets. On the final mission, you see only an empty and closed city and people who have no place else to go.UN News: How are aid teams protecting themselves from drone attacks?Oleg Kemin: At the moment in frontline areas, there is a high presence of first-person view (remote-controlled) drones. They are relatively small and usually each of them is directed by an operator. When any of our humanitarian convoys are moving toward such a zone, we inform both sides to the conflict of their GPS coordinates using the standard Humanitarian Notification Systems (HNS), so they can safely reach their destination.Here is the tomb of my husband, of my kids, I have nowhere else to go; the only thing I can do is to look after their tombs
But that only applies to UN vehicles; the rest of the civilian and military vehicles in the convoy can be vulnerable, so to deter drones, the Ukrainian armed forces build corridors of nets mounted on pylons either side of the road for 10 to 15 kilometres.The small drones don't have enough velocity to penetrate through the netting, so they get stuck in it, and that can offer some protection. Let's say it's the very, very last hope, but at least it exists. In such a corridor, you feel safer, because there is at least some layer of protection around your vehicle.Of course, wars are constantly developing and there are already ways of penetrating these nets, or drones look for gaps in the netting, especially in the autumn and winter when strong winds can rip the canopy. This is a double risk because if the net wraps around a wheel, it will stop the vehicle and incapacitate it. UN News: What can you tell us about the people who need WFP’s help?Oleg Kemin: Last summer, we went on missions to remote communities in Kharkiv region (in northeast Ukraine, close to the Russian border). There are villages we assessed which are impossible to reach now, because it’s a very active combat zone, but people are still living there.In one of those villages, when I had the opportunity to ask one of inhabitants, an elderly woman, why she was not leaving the village and she said, ‘Here is the tomb of my husband, of my kids, I have nowhere else to go; the only thing I can do is to look after their tombs.’It's our land, it's the house in which I grew up, it's a house which was built by my great-grandparents, it's my land and I don't want to leave
People are still living in these communities, and to get to them it was impossible by truck, so we removed the back seats from our armoured vehicles, filled them to the very top with food kits, and we literally drove through the mud.Our partners’ vehicles got stuck, so we had to pull them out. People were living so close to the fighting – they were just 4.5 kilometres from the Russian border and drone activity from both sides was very high over there - so, sometimes with such communities, we bring them double the amount of food kits, because we never know if we will be able to reach them in the coming months.UN News: What more can you tell us about the Ukrainian communities you’ve reached?Oleg Kemin: It's elderly people, pensioners especially. A few times people who are living there have been telling us, ‘It's our land, it's the house in which I grew up, it's a house which was built by my great-grandparents, it's my land and I don't want to leave!’Other times, we’ve met people who’ve been telling us that they had tried to go to European countries or western Ukraine, but because of their age, they were not able to find a job to make enough income to rent a house, so they had to return home to their war-contested communities. Also, for people with disabilities and their relatives, it's not so easy for them to move from those communities.The State offers evacuation and assistance, but still a lot of people are planning to stay there. And they’re among those we are helping in the communities closest to the frontline where shops are closed and no one is bringing food. Further away, if markets are open, our donors provide a little cash-based help so people can choose what to add to their food basket. UN News: Another key part of WFP’s mission is making farmland safe again so that Ukrainians can work their land. What more can you tell us?Oleg Kemin: Yes, we are involved in mine-clearing work. Ukraine is a huge agricultural country and a huge amount of land - up to 25 to 30 per cent – is polluted with the unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war.So, WFP works in demining to make land available for agricultural works again. As you know, grain from Ukraine helps to feed countries in Africa and almost all over the world, so one of the goals for us is to participate in that activity to make it possible to fight hunger, not only in Ukraine, but using, let's say, Ukrainian grain also all around the globe.”This interview was originally published on UN News.

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07 January 2026

School Shelters, Modular Clinics and Grants for Entrepreneurs: How the UN Supported Ukraine in 2025

Throughout 2025, despite continuous adversities of war and funding cuts , the United Nations in Ukraine continued working closely with local partners and government counterparts to support people in need across Ukraine. Our collective efforts remain essential to delivering more effective, timely and people-centred assistance.Explore below the 2025 highlights from UN entities working in Ukraine. Strengthening Strategic Partnership Between Ukraine and the UN The UN–Ukraine Development Cooperation Framework is the central partnership agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations for 2025–2029. It sets out how the UN will support Ukraine’s recovery and development at a time when the country continues to face the consequences of the full-scale invasion.Healthcare at the Ukrainian frontlines: WHO More than 50 modular clinics and Emergency Medical Team bases.47 fully operational in 2025.Primary care, vaccinations and emergency services.Equipped with generators and essential medical tools.Restoring Safe Schools for Ukrainian Children: UNOPS 18 schools and 39 shelters repaired in 2025.14,000+ students able to return to safe, in-person learning.Safe spaces for learning and socializing.Project is funded by the EU. "I’d really like to finally be able to go to school instead of online classes," Karina, 5th grade. Restarting Safe Farming in Ukraine: FAO and WFP 3,900 hectares surveyed for UXOs in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv.6,500 farming households supported to restart food production.291 small-scale farmers assisted directly.Supported 30,000 rural households and 1,800 farmers with seeds, greenhouses, irrigation kits, trainings, and livelihood grants. In Sumska oblast, 1,568 families received cash assistance and training across aquaculture, beekeeping, and dairy. 2.37 million ha of agricultural land assessed for war damage; over 22,000 ha have received support to resume cultivation. 141 small and medium grants and 7 large aggregation grants supported farmers and suppliers. Secured 51,000 plant genetic accessions and advanced digital systems for agriculture, forestry, and fisheries governance. Life-Saving Assistance for Families and Children: UNICEF 4.2 million people gained access to safe water.1.1 million people received winter heating support.415,321 children and caregivers accessed primary healthcare.472,976 people received mental health and psychosocial support.1.5 million people received mine safety information and survivor assistance.59,219 families with children received cash assistance. Women Leading Ukraine’s Recovery: UN Women 96-member Alliance drives gender-responsive action.EUR 7M committed for women’s empowerment.Inclusive recovery for rural women, veterans, CRSV survivors, diaspora.Programs for women in non-traditional professions: mine action, public transport drivers. Helping Families Rebuild Their Homes and Lives: UNHCR 50,000+ homes repaired since the start of the full-scale invasion.Support tailored to each family: repairs by local contractors, materials, or cash assistance.Abandoned rural homes renovated for displaced families. “With the roof repaired, I know that we will get through winter,” Larysa said. Restoring Lives: Veterans’ Recovery: UNIDO "Thanks to this prosthesis, I can move forward and live fully." – Oleh, veteran.3D-printed prosthetics restore mobility and independence.More than 30 veterans supported, 10 prosthetists trained in digital techniques.Skills, job creation and technology empower reintegration. Strengthening Railway Security in Ukraine: UNODC More than 90 railway security officers trained in firearms detection.X-ray operation, firearm ID, detection techniques.Digital modules and 1,000-image manuals for ongoing learning.26 walk-through and 52 handheld detectors provided. Safe Births Under Fire: UNFPA Bunkerized maternity wards built to protect women and newborns. More than 118 underground deliveries in Kherson in 2024–2025.Medical essentials provided: mobile incubators, neonatal equipment, life-saving medicines.New underground facilities in Kharkiv under construction. Raising Awareness on Human Trafficking: IOM Thematic installation at Kyiv Central Railway; traveling to 10+ cities in 2026.Reached more than 2M online and 3M via outdoor ads.154 survivors assisted in 2025, majority men; labour exploitation most common.Shaping Ukraine’s Urban Recovery: UN Habitat 8 municipal spatial plans endorsed.Data-driven, participatory planning for recovery and investment.Plans guide implementation and future urban development.Recovery, Resilience, and Community Support: UNDP USD 200,000+ in equipment and furniture for SESU units to maintain rescue operations in Kharkiv.4 cogeneration units supplied, securing energy for 350 social facilities in Zaporizhzhia.Vocational training: 2 centres modernized (Kyiv and Vinnytsia), training 300 students; retraining for IDPs and veterans;SESU sappers trained on 15 advanced protective suits, deployed across 8 regions.Oselia Sadhora facility provides housing, training, and employment support for adults with disabilities.Humanitarian Response and Winter Assistance in Ukraine: OCHA Humanitarian partners reached 4.4 million people in 2025 despite funding at only 45%.Under the Winter Response Plan, 1 million people received heating, insulation, and winter items.Standing with LGBTIQ Communities in Ukraine: UNAIDS Supported XVIII National LGBTIQ Conference in Kyiv, November 2025.Participated in panels on safe, inclusive, dignified spaces.Reaffirmed support amid rising anti-rights challenges.Green Recovery: Ukraine’s First Stakeholder Forum: UNEP Launch of Green Recovery Platform.300+ participants: government, UN, EU, civil society, private sector.Panels on finance, biodiversity, governance and green jobs.
We sincerely thank all UN agencies for their work and commitment, Ukrainian civil society, including our local partners, for their dedication and compassion, and, of course, the Ukrainian people, whose bravery and resilience never cease to amaze.

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22 December 2025

The flower farmer defying war and empowering women in Ukraine

Yuliia Zavalniuk, a 35-year-old entrepreneur, is the co-founder of Villa Verde, a flower farm in Kolonshchina village, 46 kilometers from Kyiv. Despite the attacks damaging farm facilities and infrastructure, she continued flower production, becoming a symbol of resilience and defiance.Now, her mission is to create an inclusive working environment, provide jobs for elderly women, and inspire others.From luxury hotels to flower farming“I grew up in Crimea, which has been occupied since 2014,” Zavalniuk explains. She fondly remembers her childhood by the seashore with her grandparents, surrounded by animals.At seven, she moved to Kyiv with her parents, both entrepreneurs. Their hard work taught her the importance of independence and being her own manager. This, she recalls, was when she first dreamed of becoming a successful woman who could provide for her family while managing a purpose-driven enterprise.While studying hospitality in Switzerland and later working in luxury hotels across Europe, she refined her business acumen and passion for service. “I love exceeding expectations,” she says. “I love the guests who are very challenging. But then you come with a smile and open heart and say, ‘I’m here. I'm willing to solve your problem; just let me do this.’”Her transition to agriculture was inspired by her mother, who retired after years in the family business but soon became restless. “After half a year, she said, ‘I’m done with retirement. Now let’s grow flowers!’,” she recalls with a smile.In 2019, they leased a hectare of land and planted their first peonies. By late 2021, the business had expanded to five hectares, filled with peonies, lilacs, and hydrangeas, equipped with automated watering and heating systems. Just as she planned further growth, everything changed. “I was on a business trip to an exhibition in Milano and the next day I woke up and they say: ‘The war has started’,” she sighs. Her first thought? “I have so many flowers. No one will water them. I have to come back and water my flowers.”Adapting to new realitiesHer neighbors sent her a video of the farm’s main building engulfed in flames. Stored heating fuel and pellets fueled the fire during a March 5, 2022, attack, destroying infrastructure, including water systems and equipment. By April 19, she returned to a de-occupied village where electricity had been restored. “I didn’t cry,” she says. “I thought: ‘Ok, I can sell these metal panels and recover some money. So, what is the most valuable?’” Her neighbors had manually watered the greenhouse plants in her absence, offering a glimmer of hope.Support soon arrived from donors, helping Villa Verde rebuild. The farm restored basic watering systems and switched to manual irrigation. “Previously, a sophisticated machine automated the process of mixing and distributing fertilizers,” she explains. “Today, we rely on simpler, manual methods, using water tanks and mixing by hand. It is not fancy, but it works.”Despite challenges, Villa Verde continues to adapt, producing fresh peony cuttings, including the classic Sarah Bernhardt and creamy white Colonel Owen Cousins. “I think we were the first in Ukraine to grow hydrangeas locally because it’s such a complicated flower,” she says proudly.Recently, she expanded into agriculture, growing cherry melons and sweet potatoes, aiming for an organic harvest of two tons.The power and inspiration of the flower businessBefore the full-scale war, Villa Verde provided equal opportunities for men and women. When many men left for the front lines, women remained without income. Recognizing this, Zavalniuk adjusted her hiring policy, prioritizing women of all ages, regardless of family obligations. Understanding their need to balance work and personal life - and knowing she might face the same choice one day – she empathized and adapted.Since 2022, Villa Verde has created two new jobs annually; today, four older women work on the farm.Employing local women has changed lives. “I may not know everything,” Zavalniuk admits. “But women from the countryside know some techniques and may come and share their ideas. We take it into account. We make changes, and they feel they are here, not just as a working force. They are part of a business. They can influence our decisions.”Her commitment to economic inclusion and job creation aligns with the “Climate Justice” area of the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, a voluntary, action-oriented platform to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda.Even during wartime, she actively promotes women’s economic independence, sharing her experiences at the Women’s Economic Empowerment Congress organized by UN Women in Ukraine. She has also strengthened her business model through training under UN Women's "Empowerment of Women in Business” initiative.The change that took root in the ashesFaced with the war, Zavalniuk saw an opportunity to rebuild and challenge societal norms. “We have to grab this chance,” she reflects. “Women were always given the second role, with the husband or the family being seen as most important; it was never about the woman being important. The woman is just here to be present, but not to make changes and not to drive something.” Now, she sees that changing. More women are launching businesses in her village - from growing apples to crafting handmade socks. With stronger local production networks and affordable taxes, rural women are achieving economic independence. Inspired by Zavalniuk’s success, some of her neighbors have even started flower businesses, proving that women can drive economic transformation in Ukraine.She believes flowers are more than just a product–they symbolize hope. Locally grown blooms are fresher and of higher quality than imports. Just as the Netherlands became famous for tulips, she is convinced Ukraine can become known for peonies.Even in war, people keep buying flowers because they bring joy and smiles. For her, flower farming also provides purpose and routine. “Flowers, they do not care if there is a war or not in Ukraine. They need water and heating.” She finds strength in Joan of Arc’s words: “I am not afraid… I was born to do this.” Smiling, she adds, “Here at the farm, I'm not afraid of bugs, diseases, weather conditions, or missile attacks because I was born to grow flowers.”This story is a part of the Beijing+30 regional communications campaign ‘Unstoppable’, aimed at marking the 30th commemoration of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The views expressed in this story are those of the protagonist and the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, the United Nations, or any of its affiliated organizations.

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Story

17 December 2025

Young people and the UN came together to shape new ideas and solutions for Ukraine’s future

On 8 December, more than 80 students and young leaders joined a joint event of the UN and Lviv Polytechnic. They talked about what their communities need today and shared ideas that could grow into real projects with UN support. The day began in the modern space of the Leoland educational and sports center, where university and UN representatives welcomed the participants. The Head of the UN in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, and University Vice-Rector Iryna Khomyshyn opened the event, highlighting how important it is to hear from young people, those who often sense change first and shape new approaches. Representatives of UNESCO and UNICEF also shared programmes already supporting young people in the region. During the conversation, Matthias Schmale debunked several common myths about the UN and encouraged students to think boldly about solutions for today’s challenges and to take part in shaping them. In the second part of the event, the young participants rolled up their sleeves and got to work. In groups, they identified the most urgent issues in their communities, developed creative ideas and drafted project proposals that the UN could help bring to life. They explored themes such as mental health, supporting displaced youth, inclusive public spaces and access to housing, relying not only on their skills, but on their lived experience of what young people need to stay, grow and feel at home in their communities. Across interactive zones and installations, the students shared their vision for Ukraine’s recovery and learned from one another. Participants also visited the opening of the photo exhibition “Shared Lives, Shared Future,” dedicated to the UN’s 80th anniversary. The exhibition captures how UN projects across Ukraine support people through crisis, help communities rebuild, and create opportunities for a future where no one is left behind. In his remarks, Matthias Schmale said: “At the UN, we are working to ensure this war ends justly for Ukraine and in line with the UN Charter. But even after the fighting stops, we will face a long road to recovery. Young people will play a key role in shaping what Ukraine becomes. Your ideas and your energy matter.”This was the second youth-focused event of its kind this year. The first took place in Kharkiv in October. Next year, the UN hopes to visit more regions, because young people everywhere are shaping the future we are building together.

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Press Release

13 January 2026

As the relentless war in Ukraine grinds on, humanitarian partners aim to reach 4.1 million people in 2026

As the relentless war in Ukraine soon enters its fifth year, humanitarian organizations are launching the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (the Plan) to provide life-saving support, including food, health care, shelter, protection, cash assistance and other aid, to 4.1 million of the most vulnerable people in 2026.Overall, an estimated 10.8 million people across Ukraine will require humanitarian assistance this year, including internally displaced and war-affected non-displaced people. To help them, humanitarian partners ask for US$2.3 billion.Front-line areas and northern border regions continue to face the highest humanitarian needs due to intensified shelling, destruction of civilian infrastructure and persistent disruptions to essential services. Repeated missile and drone strikes across the country continue to cause civilian casualties, damage homes and drive new displacement.People living in territories occupied by the Russian Federation remain largely cut off from essential services and protection systems, facing serious rights violations and insecurity, while humanitarian access remains extremely limited.“Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis has been driven by relentless attacks—from the full-scale invasion in 2022 to the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023 to more recent massive strikes on civilian infrastructure,” said Matthias Schmale, Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine. “Today, we face yet another critical turning point: widespread disruptions to power and heating during extreme winter conditions are creating a crisis within a crisis and pushing people’s ability to cope to the breaking point. As the nature of this war continues to shift, humanitarian action must adapt—responding to new risks and intensifying needs. We must do the best we can to ensure that Ukraine’s most vulnerable can endure with as much dignity as possible.”The 2026 Plan focuses on four areas to address the most urgent needs of the most vulnerable people in critical situations: people living near the front line; those forced to flee in search of safety; people whose homes are damaged or who have lost access to basic services after strikes; and vulnerable people, including internally displaced people, at risk of falling into the cracks of social protection support system.Humanitarian partners are determined to respond quickly as the situation shifts—whether it’s new attacks, waves of forced displacement or seasonal hardships, such as disrupted basic services after attacks on energy during the freezing winter.Humanitarian assistance is delivered, while maintaining close dialogue with the Government of Ukraine, complementing national systems and supporting government-led evacuation efforts. National and local organizations, alongside international partners, play a central role in the response, often the first to act in the most difficult and dangerous conditions. The US$2.3 billion required for 2026 reflects the scale of prioritized needs and the realities of delivering life-saving assistance in a high-risk environment amid shrinking humanitarian resources. “We appeal to the international community, member states, other donors and people everywhere to maintain their solidarity with the most vulnerable people in Ukraine,” said the Humanitarian Coordinator. “We hope support continues for the work we do for the people in Ukraine.” Note to editors: The Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is coordinated by OCHA on behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team and partners. It outlines priority humanitarian needs and the collective response to assist people most affected by the war in Ukraine. ResourcesUkraine 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, Eng, digital version Ukraine 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, Ukr, digital version Ukraine 2026 HNRP (Eng, Ukr), the 2026 HNRP Summary (Eng, Ukr)
For more information, please contact: Viktoriia Andriievska, viktoriia.andriievska@un.org

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Press Release

12 January 2026

2025 deadliest year for civilians in Ukraine since 2022, UN human rights monitors find

HRMMU verified that conflict-related violence in Ukraine in 2025 killed 2,514 civilians and injured 12,142. The total number of killed and injured civilians in 2025 was 31 per cent higher than in 2024 (2,088 killed; 9,138 injured) and 70 per cent higher than in 2023 (1,974 killed; 6,651 injured).The vast majority of casualties verified by HRMMU in 2025 occurred in government-controlled territory from attacks launched by Russian armed forces (97 per cent; 2,395 killed and 11,751 injured). “The 31 per cent increase in civilian casualties compared with 2024 represents a marked deterioration in the protection of civilians,” Danielle Bell, head of HRMMU said. “Our monitoring shows that this rise was driven not only by intensified hostilities along the frontline, but also by the expanded use of long-range weapons, which exposed civilians across the country to heightened risk.”Frontline areasIncreased efforts by Russian armed forces to capture territory in 2025 resulted in the killing and injuring of civilians, destruction of vital infrastructure, halting of essential services, and new waves of displacement in frontline areas. Sixty-three per cent (9,253) of all casualties in 2025 occurred in frontline areas. Older persons were particularly affected, as they constitute a large portion of those remaining in frontline villages. HRMMU documented that individuals aged 60 years and above accounted for over 45 percent (742 killed) of civilians killed in frontline areas in 2025, despite representing only 25 percent of the national population.Civilian casualties caused by short-range drones increased by 120 per cent in 2025, resulting in 577 civilians killed and 3,288 injured, compared with 226 killed and 1,528 injured in 2024. For example, on 25 December, a short-range drone struck a car with volunteers conducting evacuations in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, killing one humanitarian worker and injuring two others. On 6 December, a short-range drone killed a woman and injured her two adult children in occupied Horlivka, Donetsk region.“The expanded use of short-range drones has rendered many areas near the frontline effectively uninhabitable,” Bell said. “As essential services shut down and infrastructure is destroyed, it has become too dangerous in some communities even to provide emergency medical care or evacuate civilians. In 2025, many people who had endured years of hostilities were ultimately compelled to leave their homes.”Urban centers across UkraineA massive increase in the use of long-range weapons by the Russian armed forces starting in June 2025 also caused an increase in civilian harm in urban centers across Ukraine. Regular, hours-long, nightly attacks with hundreds of weapons killed and injured civilians, destroyed civilian property and infrastructure, and created anxiety across the country. Long-range weapons (missiles and loitering munitions) caused 35 per cent of civilian casualties in Ukraine in 2025 (682 killed and 4,443 injured), a 65 per cent increase in killed and injured compared with 2024 (531 killed and 2,569 injured). In the deadliest attack in 2025, long-range weapons launched by the Russian Federation struck the western city of Ternopil on 19 November, killing at least 38 civilians, including eight children. Ten families lost at least two members each. At least 99 others, including 17 children, were injured. Long-range weapons launched by the Russian Federation also killed 32 civilians, including five children, and injured 170, including 17 children, in Kyiv city on 31 July, the highest verified number of civilian casualties in the capital since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Targeting of energy infrastructureIn October 2025, Russian armed forces resumed large-scale, coordinated strikes on energy facilities nationwide, causing emergency power outages and scheduled power cuts across the country.The resumption of nationwide attacks on energy infrastructure occurred alongside continued region-specific attacks. For example, Odesa region was among the most affected areas in December, experiencing repeated strikes that resulted in prolonged power outages in several cities. These outages, which lasted for several days, severely affected residents, particularly people in vulnerable situations, by disrupting access to electricity, water and heating, as well as limiting the ability to preserve and prepare food and to use elevators in multi-storey buildings.Attacks on energy infrastructure persisted and caused prolonged power outages as temperatures dropped in January 2026. “The sharp increase in long-range attacks and the targeting of Ukraine’s national energy infrastructure mean that the consequences of the war are now felt by civilians far beyond the frontline,” Bell said. “With temperatures now down to minus 15 degrees Celsius, disruptions to electricity, water and heating are placing civilians across the country at heightened risk.”Russian authorities have reported that in 2025 attacks by Ukrainian armed forces killed 253 civilians and injured 1,872 in the Russian Federation. Due to lack of access to the Russian Federation and limited publicly available information, HRMMU has not been able to verify these numbers.

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Press Release

06 January 2026

Ukraine’s agriculture cannot wait: FAO sets out a three-year emergency and early recovery plan

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published its Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for Ukraine for 2026–2028, outlining priority actions to protect agricultural livelihoods, restore productive capacity and support Ukraine’s agrifood sector. “The war has significantly complicated the lives of Ukrainian farmers – from access to land and machinery to the ability to market their produce. At the same time, the agricultural sector remains vital to food security, employment and economic stability in the country. This is why, together with our partners, we are investing in the resilience of rural families and the future of Ukraine’s food systems,” said Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. The pressures, caused by the war, are particularly acute in frontline regions, where agricultural infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, access to land is constrained by explosive remnants of war, and producers face labour shortages and rising production costs. Together, these factors have disrupted production cycles, limited market access and weakened the agricultural sector’s capacity to operate beyond basic survival.

FAO’s Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for 2026–2028 responds to these challenges through an integrated, multi-year approach that links immediate agricultural assistance with early recovery and resilience-building interventions. The Plan prioritizes safeguarding food production for vulnerable rural families and small-scale farmers, while contributing to the restoration of productive assets, supporting targeted rehabilitation of agricultural land, and strengthening pathways toward market-oriented and climate-resilient production. “Ukraine’s rural communities cannot afford a pause between emergency response and recovery,” said Shakhnoza Muminova, Head of FAO in Ukraine. “This Plan is designed to bridge that gap – protecting livelihoods now, restoring safe access to land and supporting farmers and rural families to rebuild production. Continued, predictable support is critical to prevent deeper losses and to sustain recovery efforts over time.” The Plan is structured around three mutually reinforcing pillars: evidence and coordination, emergency agriculture, and early recovery. Together, these pillars aim to ensure that assistance is targeted, data-driven and aligned with national priorities, while supporting the gradual transition from humanitarian assistance toward recovery and longer-term resilience.

Special emphasis is placed on frontline regions, women and youth, internally displaced persons and returnees, as well as on the rehabilitation of agricultural land affected by explosive hazards – a prerequisite for restoring production, strengthening food security and enabling safe economic activity in rural areas. By linking emergency action with early recovery and investment-oriented interventions, FAO seeks to preserve Ukraine’s agricultural potential and support the agrifood sector as a cornerstone of national resilience and future reconstruction.

Today, FAO’s active portfolio in Ukraine amounts to USD 25.9 million, of which USD 24 million is dedicated to emergency and early recovery activities. Additional resources are required to expand coverage, prevent further erosion of productive capacity and ensure that agriculture remains a foundation for recovery and long-term development. FAO in Ukraine: Since the escalation of the war in 2022, FAO has supported more than 300 000 rural families and nearly 17 000 small-scale agrifood enterprises. Assistance has included seeds, animal feed, poultry kits, grain storage solutions, generators, irrigation systems, cash and vouchers, and matching grants – helping communities maintain food production and livelihoods despite ongoing hostilities.

Additionally, through satellite analysis of 2.37 million hectares, FAO identified over one million craters, illustrating the scale of contamination and damage. Based on a multi-criteria prioritization process – including agricultural use, accessibility and feasibility of clearance – 32 000 hectares were identified for mine action interventions. To date, farmers and rural families cultivating over 22 000 hectares have received targeted support to resume agricultural activities and begin rebuilding their livelihoods.

The Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for Ukraine 2026–2028 provides a clear framework to scale up action in line with needs that remain acute under continued war.

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Press Release

10 December 2025

Laboratory reagents for detection of infectious diseases and epidemic prevention delivered to Ukraine with ASEF and WHO support

During the war, early detection of infectious diseases is critical. For over two decades, Ukraine has implemented a comprehensive national poliomyelitis prevention programme. Although the 2021 outbreak has been officially closed, continued testing for poliovirus remains critical, as the disease persists as a global threat. Maintaining systematic epidemiological surveillance enables Ukraine to detect and prevent potential cases or outbreaks in a timely manner.This proactive strategy not only protects Ukrainian children but also strengthens health security across the region, including neighboring countries hosting refugees. Sustained investment and modernization of laboratory capacity are essential to enable rapid response, prevent disease spread, and safeguard future generations.As part of this humanitarian support, PCR kits and other diagnostic reagents for the detection and differentiation of influenza, SARS-COV-2, other respiratory pathogens, meningitis, malaria and other tropical fevers, as well as hantavirus infections, and diphtheria were also procured and distributed to laboratories throughout Ukraine.The handover ceremony of supplies to the Public Health Center of Ukraine was attended by Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine, Ihor Kuzin; Director of the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Volodymyr Kurpita; H.E. Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine; Mr Satoshi Sugimoto, Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ukraine Office; and ASEF Executive Director, Ambassador Beata Stoczyńska – partners who have consistently supported national efforts to strengthen the public health system in close cooperation with WHO in Ukraine, represented by Dr Jarno Habicht.“A strong laboratory network remains the foundation of an effective public health and response system. The development of this infrastructure and the reinforcement of diagnostic capacities across the country continue uninterrupted. Through cooperation with international partners, the Ministry is steadily expanding the capacities of our laboratories – from upgrading equipment to providing modern reagents and training specialists. This enables us to improve the quality of testing, detect infectious threats more rapidly, and make the public health system more responsive and resilient to potential risks,” stated Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine.“Together with international partners, we are ensuring that laboratories are equipped with the resources required for timely detection and prevention of disease spread. Importantly, laboratory specialists receive continuous trainings in accordance with international standards and best practices,” noted Dr. Jarno Habicht, Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine.H.E. Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine underlined: "Japan has supported infectious disease control efforts in Ukraine and neighboring countries since 2022. Through this new assistance, Japan hopes to contribute to Ukraine’s collective efforts to reduce the number of people affected by infectious diseases."“On this occasion, the Asia-Europe Foundation reaffirms our commitment to support the resilience and recovery of Ukraine's health system. With the generous support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, ASEF continues to stand firmly with the people of Ukraine, mobilizing critical resources in close partnership with WHO to address urgent health needs and support the recovery of the national health system”, said the ASEF Executive Director, Ambassador Beata Stoczyńska.“Infection control during wartime is critically important to reducing the overall burden on the health system. This is why we have aimed to strengthen testing capacities and provide a comprehensive solution by fully supplying laboratories with reagents across the country. We are grateful to our partners for this timely and essential support,” said Volodymyr Kurpita, Director of the Public Health Center of Ukraine.Background informationWorking in close partnership with the World Health Organization, ASEF has contributed essential resources to address immediate health needs while supporting longer-term system strengthening. Through joint interventions channelled via WHO Ukraine, nearly four million people across the country have received access to essential health supplies and services, with more than 320 health institutions supported, and medical equipment valued at over USD 7.6 million delivered nationwide. These efforts ensured comprehensive geographic coverage, including frontline areas such as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. As part of this continued support, the ASEF is now contributing to the enhancement of laboratory capacities in Kyiv Oblast Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kyiv City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Ukrainian Public Health Center, reinforcing diagnostic capabilities for high-risk communicable diseases and improving outbreak preparedness. Overall, the reagents from this batch are being distributed to all regions of Ukraine, while poliovirus testing kits are specifically directed to regions designated by the Center for Public Health as having elevated risk levels. Most recently, within the same initiative, 26,000 doses of rabies vaccine were distributed to health facilities across Ukraine.

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Press Release

08 December 2025

FAO and Qatar Fund for Development launch USD 10 million programme to support mine-affected rural communities in Ukraine

8 December 2025, Doha, Qatar - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) have signed a USD 10 million agreement to support rural communities affected by the potential contamination of agricultural land with mines and explosive remnants of war in Ukraine. Through support provided by QFFD and implemented by FAO in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), the programme aims to restore safe use of agricultural land, revitalize livelihoods and strengthen the resilience of farming communities across some of the most severely affected oblasts in southern and eastern Ukraine. The initiative will also contribute to shaping a scalable model that can inform similar recovery efforts in other crisis-affected contexts.The project forms part of a joint initiative between FAO and the WFP that links mine action with agricultural recovery. Under this partnership, FAO will lead prioritization of needs based on geospatial analysis, soil assessments, land rehabilitation and the restoration of agricultural production, while WFP will oversee non-technical and technical surveying as well as clearance operations. Together, the two agencies provide an integrated pathway from making land safe to enabling farming communities restart cultivation.“For many rural families in Ukraine, the ability to safely return to their land is the first step toward rebuilding their livelihoods. This partnership with Qatar Fund for Development brings much-needed support to communities living with the daily consequences of landmines and unexploded ordnance contamination,” said Maxwell Sibhensana, Deputy Director of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience at FAO. “By combining agricultural technical expertise with mine action assistance, we are helping farming communities regain safe access to their land and rebuild the foundations of a resilient rural economy – an essential contribution not only to Ukraine’s recovery, but also to wider regional and global food security.”Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Director General of QFFD stated, “Our partnership with FAO represents a shared commitment to supporting farming communities in Ukraine whose livelihoods have been disrupted by landmine contamination. Through this programme, we aim to restore safe access to agricultural land and enable thousands of families to resume cultivation, contributing to food security and economic recovery. QFFD is proud to work alongside FAO in delivering practical solutions that foster resilient communities capable of thriving and building a more secure future.”Ukraine remains one of the most mine-affected countries in the world, with up to 138 500 km² affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war. The area is equivalent to the size of Greece – a scale that illustrates the magnitude of the challenge for farmers whose fields remain unsafe or inaccessible. Mine contamination continues to restrict access to farmland, reduce production capacity and slow the recovery of rural economies, underscoring the need for sustained international support to restore safe cultivation and safeguard national food production as well as economic recovery.The programme targets some of the most severely affected oblasts in southern and eastern Ukraine and focuses on identifying priority agricultural areas, assessing soil health and supporting farmers in safely resuming cultivation. Activities will include advanced satellite and geospatial analysis to map damage and contamination, along with comprehensive soil testing to evaluate safety, contamination risks and restoration needs. The initiative will build upon national expertise by training young scientists and strengthening local institutions, while promoting good agricultural practices for land rehabilitation. This investment in human capital contributes to long-term national capacity building, ensuring that Ukraine has a future-ready system for soil rehabilitation and resilient agricultural recovery.Alongside these technical efforts, livelihood assistance will be provided through provision of agricultural inputs, equipment and construction materials through vouchers, enabling more than 3 500 rural families and 100 small-scale farmers to restart production on safe land. Once functioning at full scale, the intervention is expected to contribute meaningfully to food security, strengthen livelihoods and income generation as well as long-term recovery for rural communities whose farmland remains inaccessible or unsafe due to mines and unexploded ordnance.This new partnership builds on FAO’s broader support to Ukraine’s agricultural sector since 2022, including emergency assistance, mine action coordination, land rehabilitation, production recovery and the restoration of critical rural infrastructure. By addressing both the humanitarian and economic consequences of mine contamination, the programme strengthens the foundations for recovery and lays the groundwork for sustainable development in the affected regions.

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