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

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.

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. 

This is her home, her family, and her community. And when many people were forced to evacuate, Inna made a conscious decision to stay.Humanitarian response has become part of her everyday life. She works with women and girls who have experienced shelling, loss of housing, forced displacement, violence, and other consequences of the war.  “I have been working in the humanitarian response field for a little over two years. During this time, I have organised psychosocial support for women and girls, identified their needs, and tried to ensure that assistance was as useful and accessible as possible,” Inna shares.  Supporting women and girls every dayInna worked with NGO Girls as part of a project implemented in cooperation with UN Women Ukraine and supported by the Governments of Sweden, Denmark and Latvia, as well as UN Women National Committees. The project also received support through UN Women’s Emergency Response Mechanism (EFM).“As part of the project, I identified women and girls who needed humanitarian support, communicated with them, organised and distributed assistance, assessed community needs, and informed women about the activities and services available through our organisation,” she explains.The project combined different forms of support“The goal of the project, supported by UN Women and partners, was to help women and girls affected by the war. We provided psychosocial support, dignity kits, cash assistance, and supported local civil society organisations,” says Inna Lytvynenko.The majority of the team she worked with were women and girls. This matters – both for the internal environment and for the beneficiaries, who often feel safer opening up to other women.One woman’s storyOne day, a woman came to NGO Girls after fleeing a border village under threat.“She received psychosocial support and a dignity kit, which she was incredibly grateful for. It helped her regain some emotional stability and meet her basic needs,” Inna recalls.She says that a combination of psychological support and humanitarian assistance often becomes the first step toward recovery for displaced women.Women holding communities togetherThrough her work in Sumy, Inna saw how women play a vital role not only in supporting their families but also in sustaining their communities.“They help those who need support the most and ensure humanitarian aid is gender-responsive,” she says.Why women’s organisations need long-term supportLocal women-led organisations are a key part of support systems. They work directly with affected women, understand local realities, and respond quickly. However, these organisations face increasing challenges.“When financial support decreases, women’s organisations cannot adequately support affected women and girls. Long-term and stable funding is essential to ensure they can deliver support consistently and without interruption,” Inna stresses.Why Inna stays in SumyDespite ongoing risks, Inna chooses to remain in Sumy.“I stay because this is my home – my family and the place where I grew up,” she says.Even though many are evacuating, the need for support remains urgent.“Many women and girls are losing their homes or being forced to leave. I want to stay here and support those who need help the most,” she explains.For Inna, staying means being present for people who need support here and now. Despite the difficult stories she hears every day, her message remains hopeful:“I want every woman to know that she is not alone. Please reach out for help when you need it. Your strength and your wellbeing matter – to you, to your family, and to society as a whole,” she says.The project “Enhancing the safety, security, and mental health of women and girls, as well as advancing their human rights” was implemented by UN Women Ukraine in partnership with NGO Girls. It was financially supported by the Governments of Sweden, Denmark, and Latvia, the UN Women National Committees.The project also received support from UN Women through the Emergency Funding Mechanism (EFM) – a flexible, replenishable, revolving fund that allows resources to be rapidly allocated in the immediate aftermath of sudden-onset crises or peaks in protracted crises.The views and opinions expressed in the text are those of the individuals featured and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of UN Women, the supporting organizations, or the donors involved in the project.