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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Press Release

20 December 2022

Ukraine: Humanitarian Coordinator allocates $20 million to support local organizations and volunteer groups at the forefront of the humanitarian response

“These groups have always been the backbone of the humanitarian response in Ukraine and even more since the war started in late February. They are in the front line, taking risks to make sure people whose lives have been torn apart by months of war receive support for their daily needs: water, food, medicines, shelter when their houses have been damaged,” explained Denise Brown. The humanitarian community in Ukraine has had several meetings with these groups in different parts of the country. “The work they are doing is impressive. However, 10 months later, their resources are being exhausted and they need support to sustain their vital assistance to the people of Ukraine,” said Denise Brown. With this new disbursement, OCHA-managed humanitarian funds will have allocated over $252 million for life-saving operations in Ukraine since the Russian Federation’s invasion started on 24 February, including $192 million from the UHF and $60 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). More than $55 million has been channelled to projects and organizations supporting hospitals, displacement centres and other critical facilities with generators and people with winter supplies, as Ukraine faces a severe energy crisis in the middle of the winter. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our donors. We thank them, on behalf of the humanitarian community and the people of Ukraine,” concluded Denise Brown. *** Note to editors: The OCHA-managed Ukraine Humanitarian Fund is the largest of the world’s 20 active Country-Based Pooled Funds (CBPFs), which are established when a new emergency occurs or when an existing humanitarian situation deteriorates. Between 2019 and February 2022, the UHF allocated $24 million to 26 partners implementing 64 projects in the east of Ukraine, to support at least 1.25 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Since February, and with this new announcement, the fund has allocated nearly $192 million to support 109 projects of 56 partners including, 30 international NGOs, 18 national NGOs and 8 UN agencies. Some $44 million of the total allocations were channeled directly to national organizations. Also since February, the UHF has expanded its partners’ base, increasing the number of eligible partners from 51 pre-war to 93 today, including 35 national NGOs. For further information, please contact OCHA Ukraine: Saviano Abreu, +380 50 422 3943, deabreuisidoro@un.org OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int.

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Press Release

15 December 2022

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR MARTIN GRIFFITHS REMARKS TO PRESS AT THE END OF HIS FOUR-DAY MISSION TO UKRAINE

Thank you, Prime Minister, thank you Denys, for receiving me. I was recalling that you and I met in this same building, many many months ago, early on in this war. And it is a great privilege for me to be back. Thank you very much indeed. I was fortunate to visit Mykolaiv and Kherson earlier this week, and now also in Kyiv meeting the Prime Minister and other leaders, as well as humanitarian agencies. And I'd like to share a few conclusions from those visits and from those meetings. Firstly, I was very impressed by the close partnership which the international humanitarian community, which is what I represent, has with your authorities, with your Government here. But also very importantly in the oblasts, the government of Mykolaiv and Kherson. I spent time with the mayors of those two cities, the heads of hromadas also. And that relationship is extremely strong, but it's very operational. Needs are identified. Aid is delivered. And I want to thank you, in fact, for what everyone has been telling me from the humanitarian agencies, international and national, local, the fron- line partners, to thank you for the very, very constructive and open relationship we have, even in these extraordinarily difficult times where you all days are filled with decisions and tragedies. You have provided the time for our agencies and our partners to do that job. It is a huge thank you. Since the beginning of the war, international humanitarian agencies have reached just under 14 million people with assistance, and we will continue to do so under your leadership. But let me say a few things about Mykolaiv and Kherson. We were in Kherson, as I said. The Governor was spending the day with us, the mayor, the people. We saw distribution sites for food, shelter, clothing, mattresses, all organized by local authorities, handing out these small bits of generosity to the people in their great time of difficulty. I was in a school where UNICEF has a child centre. And as we were there in Kherson, we heard the artillery coming closer to us. So the shelling, which is a daily phenomenon in Kherson, we heard that. And it's not that we were under threat, but we were reminded of these still uncertain lives and future of so many people, even in Kherson, where you have managed to regain so much of your territory. We met in Mykolaiv, in a shelter provided by your Government to the displaced people from Kherson, some of these families. Some of them have been there for months, but some had recently arrived because their villages on the road between Mykolaiv and Kherson had been destroyed. And the following day we saw those villages, and they went back daily to try to restart their lives in those villages. They didn't know when the reconstruction of their houses would happen, and it was a reminder of two things. One, you have an enormous challenge ahead to reconstruct the places where people live. But equally, you have people who want to go home, who are determined to go home. And that is a great value and a great tribute to your people. Three things just three things which came across very strongly. And you mentioned them as priority needs. Number one, no surprise, is the electricity. I was absolutely stunned to see the degree to which electricity is the gateway to everything else. Without electricity, there's no warmth. The weather is getting cold. Without electricity, there are no medical services, there is no transport, there is no light. And in many parts of Kherson there is very little electricity. So, the effort that you were making in Paris on the same day, Denys, that is, making the repair of energy infrastructure the absolute central priority is one that I saw how important it was to the people of Kherson. And the Governor of Kherson is trying to amend the electricity lines coming into his oblast and hoping that if they were repaired, that they would not be damaged again. This issue is of central importance precisely because civilians suffer from the lack of electricity, civilians who should not suffer under international law in a conflict. That's the first priority. The second is de-mining, and we talked about it just now. I was told, for example, that there are about half a million hectares of agricultural land in Kherson alone, which needs de-mining. You can't get the country back into production without de-mining. I think, as you were saying to me earlier, Ukraine is probably now the most mine-polluted country in the world. So the urgent international priority to the mine is one that we will also do what we can. And then finally, this and we talked about it also. Even in war, people want to see a future, perhaps, particularly in war. And restarting elements of a local economy is a central priority for people. People want to go back to work. They want their children to go back to schools, they want transport to work. They want the economy to work, they want employment to happen. And I am one of those who supports you in your efforts to get that private sector back. Even now, even in places like Kherson, where the war is still going on with those people on the right bank are still being shelled every day, restarting, jumpstarting the economy, anything that we in the UN can do to support that effort – we’d happily do so. Thank you very much.

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Press Release

26 August 2022

Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council - on Ukraine

Mr. President, Mr. President of Ukraine, Excellencies, Today marks a sad and tragic milestone – six months since Russia’s 24th of February invasion of Ukraine. During this devastating period, thousands of civilians have been killed and injured, including hundreds of children. Countless others have lost their family members, friends and loved ones. The world has seen grave violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed with little to no accountability. Millions of Ukrainians have lost their homes and their worldly possessions, becoming internally displaced or refugees. With the onset of winter, humanitarian needs continue to rise rapidly with millions of people in need of assistance and protection. As these needs skyrocket, it is imperative that humanitarian actors in Ukraine have safe and unhindered access to all people requiring assistance, no matter where they live. Mr. President,
The consequences of this senseless war are being felt far beyond Ukraine. We are seeing new vulnerabilities emerge in a global environment already worn out by conflicts, inequality, pandemic-induced economic and health crises, and climate change – with a disproportionate impact on developing countries. The acceleration of already high food, fertilizer and fuel prices has triggered a global crisis that could drive millions more into extreme poverty, magnifying hunger and malnutrition, while threatening to raise the global humanitarian caseload to new highs and erase hard-won development gains. Vulnerable communities are grappling with the largest cost-of-living crisis in a generation and high commodity and transportation costs are having major repercussions for existing humanitarian operations. Mr. President,
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo will brief the Council on the impact of the armed conflict in Ukraine, both inside and outside the country over the past six months. As I mentioned on Monday, I wanted to take this opportunity to provide a brief update on my recent travel to Ukraine. I would like to have been able to do the same yesterday based on my experience in discussions about Zaporizhzhia, but unfortunately I was out of New York with a [inaudible] planned that was impossible to change at such a short notice. My visit was an important opportunity to follow up on the landmark deal that has brought a measure of hope, especially to developing countries and millions of vulnerable people bearing the brunt of the global food crisis, some of them on the edge of famine. I can report to the Council that the Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in Istanbul in July, is progressing well – with dozens of ships sailing in and out of Ukrainian ports, loaded so far with over 720,000 metric tonnes of grains and other food products. This deal would not have been possible without the constructive approach of both Ukraine and Russia and the efforts of the government of Türkiye. During my visit to Lviv, I met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Turkish President Erdogan. I thanked them for their continued engagement to support the implementation of the Initiative to ensure the safe passage of Ukrainian food products and fertilizers to those in need and to the world at large. I was filled with emotion visiting the port of Odesa and the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul. On my visit to Odesa, I went aboard a bulk carrier called the MV Kubrosli Y as it was being loaded with about 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat. It was deeply moving to peer into the hold of this cargo ship and see wheat pouring in. Even if in a limited way, the storied port of Odesa – which had been paralyzed for months – is slowly coming to life thanks to the Initiative. In Istanbul, I saw the WFP-chartered ship, the MV Brave Commander. It was proudly flying the UN flag with its cargo destined for the Horn of Africa where millions of people are at risk of famine. I then had the opportunity to walk up the long and narrow gangway of the SSI Invincible II heading to pick up Ukrainian grain in the port of Chornomorsk. The vessel will carry one of the largest hauls of grain leaving Ukraine to date – more than 50,000 metric tonnes. Mr. President,
Just a few weeks ago, much of this would have been hard to imagine. We are seeing a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved, in even the most devastating of contexts, when we put people first. As I stressed in Odesa and Istanbul, what I saw was the more visible part of the solution. The other part of this package deal is the unimpeded access to global markets of Russian food and fertilizers, which are not subject to sanctions. It is critical that all governments and the private sector cooperate to effectively bring them to market. Together with the task team led by Rebeca Grynspan, I will continue my intense contacts for that purpose. In 2022, there is enough food in the world – the problem is its uneven distribution. But if we don’t stabilize the fertilizer market in 2022, there simply will not be enough food in 2023. Many farmers around the world are already planning to reduce areas for cultivation for next season. Getting much more food and fertilizers out of Ukraine and Russia at reasonable costs is vital to further calm commodity markets and lower prices for consumers. I once again commend the parties for their engagement in this process and urge them to continue to build on this progress. I also renew the call I made in Odesa for a massive scaling up of support to the developing countries getting hammered by the global food crisis. The shipment of grain and other foodstuffs is crucial, but it won’t mean much if countries cannot afford them. Developed countries and International Financial Institutions must do more to ensure that developing countries can fully capitalize on the opportunities of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Mr. President,
Despite progress on the humanitarian front, fighting in Ukraine shows no signs of ending, with new potential areas of dangerous escalation appearing. Two places were ever-present in my mind – and in my discussions in Ukraine — Zaporizhzhia and Olenivka. I remain gravely concerned about the situation in and around Europe’s largest Nuclear Power Plant in Zaporizhzhia. The warning lights are flashing. Any actions that might endanger the physical integrity, safety or security of the nuclear plant are simply unacceptable. Any further escalation of the situation could lead to self-destruction. The security of the Plant must be ensured, and the Plant must be re-established as purely civilian infrastructure. In close contact with the IAEA, the UN Secretariat has assessed that we have in Ukraine the logistics and security capacity to support any IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from Kyiv, provided both Russia and Ukraine agree. I welcome expressions of support for such a mission and urge that to happen as soon as possible. Mr. President,
I am deeply disturbed by the allegations of violations of International Humanitarian Law and violations and abuses of human rights related to the armed conflict. International Humanitarian Law protects prisoners of war. The International Committee of the Red Cross must have access to them wherever they are held. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine -- and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine -- continue to monitor, document and report with a view to supporting the investigation of alleged violations. Work is also ongoing to deploy the recently established Fact-Finding Mission to Olenivka to look into the incident on 29 July. This mission must be able to freely conduct its work - to gather and analyze necessary information - and to find the facts. It is imperative that the mission has safe, secure and unfettered access to all relevant places and persons and to all relevant evidence without any limitation, impediment or interference. Mr. President, Excellencies,
On this 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, I wish to congratulate the Ukrainian people. The people of Ukraine and beyond need peace and they need peace now. Peace in line with the UN Charter. Peace in line with international law. Thank you.

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Story

13 March 2023

IOM Supports Kyiv Metro to improve its bomb shelter capacities

The items were provided to help people who take shelter in the subway during air raids be more comfortable. The official handover ceremony, involving Ukraine capital’s mayor, Vitalii Klytchko, took place a few hours after a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack led to the destructions in several districts of Kyiv and left three people injured. Other areas of Ukraine were also affected, including the death of at least five people in Lviv Region. Currently, 46 stations of Kyiv metro serve as bomb shelters during air raids. “In the first months of the Russian invasion, over 40,000 people sought safety in Kyiv’s metro”, said Vitalii Klytchko. “As the whole world admires the resilience of people in Ukraine, we are proud to support the efforts of communal enterprises in Kyiv and other cities, that became the first responders to the needs of those affected by the war,” said IOM Ukraine’s Chief of Mission, Anh Nguen. The 9 March night air raid in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine lasted for almost seven hours. “For such a long period of time, the mattresses provided by IOM would be extremely useful, while the folding chairs and blankets will be in use even for shorter air raids,” said the head of Kyiv metro, Viktor Braginskyi. Funded by the European Union and the French Government, IOM provided the communal enterprise with over 10,000 folding chairs, 1,500 blankets and 1,500 mattresses. The same amount of assistance was also handed over to the metro of Kharkiv – the city that remains a frontline target of multiple attacks in Eastern Ukraine. Since the start of the Russian Federation’s 24 February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, IOM supported about three million of war-affected people in the country with different types of assistance.

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Story

08 March 2023

Story of Nataliya who helps torture survivors, civilians who were injured and family members of those killed

She is one of countless Ukrainian women who have been helping others, men and women alike, deal with horrific consequences of the gross human rights violations that Ukraine has experienced over the past year.

Nataliya Melnyk had been working with survivors of torture even before the full-scale armed attack by the Russian Federation on Ukraine started in February 2022, but she says that since then, the number of people who turn for help has increased 100-fold. So, she began to provide support to civilians who were wounded and family members of dead civilians. She is the coordinator of projects and programs at Blue Bird, a local non-governmental organization staffed almost entirely by women that aids torture survivors. The 45-year-old notes that her organization has already doubled its staff, but even if they had five times as many people it would still not be enough to tackle the soaring needs. So they decided to enlist the help of others. “Now we train a lot of medical workers, social workers, and psychologists, we pass on our experience so that as many people as possible can get help,” she says, noting that the people her organization helps include survivors of torture, and families of those who have disappeared or been killed in attacks on civilian targets. Blue Bird is also going to train journalists, she adds, who often do not know how to speak to victims of human rights violations without causing more trauma. Nataliya says ninety percent of beneficiaries of the NGO are former prisoners of war or civilians who have been held in captivity. They need everything, she says, ranging from legal and psychological assistance, to social support, medical treatment, access to medicines, hospital treatment or rehabilitation facilities. But Nataliya notes that some victims of torture never come for help as they think that what happened to them pales in comparison with Ukraine’s ordeal. “They never report to the police because they believe that the fact that they were held and beaten for two or three days is not so terrible, that the country is busy with more urgent things, and that it is necessary to help those who suffered more,” she says. But she cautions that failing to report abuse potentially deprives the victims of future justice and makes it harder to enforce accountability. She argues that some survivors may not regard their experience as sufficiently traumatic but they are also at risk of serious psychological and physical consequences from what they experienced. She explains that the reluctance of some to come forward sometimes makes it difficult to assess the real number of torture survivors. Asked whether she derives pride from her work, Natalyia says what makes her particularly proud is that she and her colleagues were able to help others even though they were in extremely difficult situations themselves. “We ourselves were forced to leave for a certain time, became internally displaced persons, without clothes, without usual household items and sat in basements during shelling, but even hiding in subway stations, our psychologists still provided people with psychological help,” she recalls.

Nataliya’s story is just one of many women who have been committed to documenting human rights violations and tackling their severe consequences. On this day — International Women’s Day —- we wanted to recognize the crucial role played by women human rights defenders in advancing multiple human rights in Ukraine.

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Story

07 March 2023

Cash assistance is helping families in Ukraine rebuild their day-to-day lives

A cheerful black dog dashes around the backyard farm of Liubov Yakovleva, greeting any and all visitors with a wag of not just his tail but his entire body. This four-legged friend, Karandash, helps keep Liubov from feeling lonely now that her husband has passed away and her children and grandchildren can only visit on holidays or vacations. It was, in fact, her grandchildren’s idea to give her this ball of energy so that their grandmother would not feel so alone in her village of Vyshneve, situated in the Dnipropetrovska oblast of southeastern Ukraine. Playing with the dog, Liubov recounts her story of how she was born in a concentration camp in Germany during the Second World War. “When World War II started, my father went to the partisans and my mother, being pregnant at the time, was taken to the concentration camp,” recalled Liubov. “I was born during the war, far from my native country. And now, at the end of my life, I face war again, in my homeland.” Liubov never thought she would have to experience war again, but now her primary concern is for her children and grandchildren. “My heart cries for all the children who, like me when I was a child, suffer from this war.” In her small backyard, Liubov grows vegetables to support herself and her family. When she received cash assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the summer of 2022, she used it not only to support her own basic needs but also those of her grandchildren, even though they live far away. “I spent this money on my grandchildren. We bought school supplies, some food and firewood for the winter heating season," added Liubov. “I didn't even think I would get any money. I did not believe it at first,” said Liubov, with tears in her eyes. “I am grateful to FAO for this help and to everyone who helped me to apply and receive the assistance.” Forced to flee Also now in Dnipropetrovska oblast, Oleksandr Myroshnychenko sought refuge at a friend’s house in the area after he was forced to abandon his home in Popasna, Luhanska oblast. Since 2014, his town has suffered periodic shelling, yet he was always determined to remain in his home. However, this time things were different. “When the war escalated in February 2022, we thought there would be shooting around the neighbourhood like in 2014, but then we understood that things were different, and we had to flee from these heavy bombings.” Oleksandr, along with his wife and his bedridden mother, left Popasna in March 2022 and moved in with his friend in the village of Lozuvatka. That summer, FAO supported Oleksandr and his family with multipurpose cash assistance. The value of cash transfers is based on household size to ensure that each household can cover the basic needs of all its members for a period of three months. “When we left Popasna, we took only the most necessary things. I am retired. My wife worked at the glass factory in Popasna, but then she was laid off, so my pension was the only source of income,” said Oleksandr. “The cash assistance provided by FAO was absolutely crucial for us. We could buy a washing machine and a refrigerator, not new but in good condition. We are very grateful for the help of the donors and everyone involved in the registration and payment process." Hosting others Halyna Voitiuk is a resident of Komisarivka village in Dnipropetrovska oblast. She takes care of two grandchildren who live with her. She is retired but grows vegetables and fruits to can for the winter period. Following the outbreak of the war in February 2022, Halyna opened her doors to a family of six — a mother with five children — who had fled to Komisarivka from Kharkivska oblast. They lived together for two and a half months until the situation stabilized and they could return home. Halyna subsequently began hosting another family, a couple with two young children who had also fled the hostilities. “They are unlikely to go home in the near future. The man has found a job in a neighbouring village, and the woman takes care of the kids,” said Halyna. She lets them live with her at no cost while they get themselves back on their feet. However, her income is very low. “My pension and the allowance for my children are very small, and children require a lot of money.” Thankfully, Halyna and the displaced family received assistance. With the multipurpose cash assistance from FAO, Halyna notes, “I bought my grandson a bicycle and my granddaughter a tablet for her college studies. [Before] I could not buy them many things, so this assistance was really crucial.” In total, with support from Belgium, the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the European Union, and its own emergency funds, FAO has supported 2 620 rural households (6 877 people) in Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Mykolaivska and Kherson oblasts. FAO’s cash transfers provide flexible support that enables families to respond to their own priority needs and help others in their communities. Learn more Website: FAO country profile: Ukraine Website: FAO responds to the Ukraine crisis Website:FAO emergencies and resilience: Ukraine

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27 February 2023

Ukraine: ‘Calling it a crisis seems so insignificant compared to everyday reality on the ground’: A UN Resident Coordinator blog

The people of Ukraine remain resilient a year since Russia’s 24 February 2022 invasion but “humanitarian aid is as necessary as ever,” according to the UN’s most senior official in the country. Denise Brown is the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine. Based in the capital Kyiv, she works alongside around 20 UN agencies with some 2,600 staff, the majority Ukrainians. She spoke to UN News about the challenges of supporting communities in a country at war. “Conditions have been pretty difficult in Ukraine over the past year and we've had to adapt to some extreme circumstances. There are constant air raid sirens, which means we are dashing in and out of the bunker all day long. In the past 12 months we’ve calculated that we’ve spent more than a month there holding meetings of all types, including with the Humanitarian Country Team or UN Member States. Supporting the Ukrainian people Our days here are too often unpredictable. There is no typical day, but one I remember very clearly was 10th October when the centre of Kyiv was hit by air strikes at 8.20am just 1.2 kilometres from my office. When I heard that explosion and the office started shaking, I thought “oh now would be a good time” to get into that bunker. Our major focus is to support the Ukrainian people, especially with the delivery of relief items. We are working as close as possible to the front line, which requires meticulous planning and coordination. I regularly visit front-line communities because I'm really insistent that UN staff are involved in these most difficult deliveries. We have the capacity, experience and resources. So, we spend quite a bit of time in places like Kherson, but also in different communities of the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. In November, there was such hope when Kherson was retaken by the Ukrainian Government. Three days later, we were there and it was quite moving. There were people out on the streets, waving at us when we entered the city with trucks full of supplies. But several months later, as you saw last week, there were continued airstrikes in the middle of the city and civilians were killed; volunteers have been killed, aid workers have been injured. It feels like it's never going to end in Kherson. But also, what's never ending in Kherson is the strength and the hope of the people who stayed there and who have told me they will not leave. This is a real testament to the strength, conviction and resilience of the Ukrainian population. Rebuilding communities In January I travelled near Soledar, and along the side of the road I saw communities that had been completely flattened. I'm convinced that the determination of the people of Ukraine will mean these towns and communities will be rebuilt even though it may take a long time. The courage and the determination to make that happen is very prevalent here. It's something that that strikes me in all the places that I visit. Since I arrived, I’ve dedicated time to talk to people in the communities I visit, to meet and talk with the volunteers, the local authorities, the mayors. I think there are perhaps two individuals, both women, who I remember very well; the mayors of Kherson and Orikhiv, which is about three kilometres from the front line, in the Zaporizhzhia region. I was on the ground there for less than three hours and we counted at least 20 strikes anywhere from five to 10 kilometres away. It's just constant blasts. These mayors have decided to stay and they are working non-stop, taking care of their communities and they are our primary interlocutors with whom we are in constant contact. During that trip to communities close to Soledar I also met a fantastic woman, a doctor. She took me to a clinic she had to set up in her own house after the health centre of the village was hit. She told me how determined she was to remain there and support the people who stayed behind. So, these are courageous women who I think I will never forget. Humanitarian needs The war continues and is intensifying, so we can reasonably expect that the population will continue to be affected. This is a humanitarian crisis, although calling it a crisis seems so insignificant compared to the everyday reality we see on the ground. There is not one main need but many. The most acute situation is close to the front line, where houses are flattened and health clinics are destroyed. One clinic I toured in the Kharkiv region was destroyed a month after I visited it. These communities need everything, so we're very committed to delivering relief items. We're also very much focused on the psychosocial trauma suffered particularly by children but caring for them becomes increasingly difficult the closer we get to the front line. Across the front line We have access to all the territory controlled by Ukraine, but we have extremely limited access across the front line. Since February 2022, no humanitarian convoys have been able to cross between the two areas. We request this access very regularly at both Ministries of Defence in Ukraine and Russia, and while we consistently receive a positive response from the Ukrainian side, we have not yet received a similar response from Russia. It's essential that we have access across that front line. We'll be able to go tomorrow if we get the green light but guarantees of safety are needed. It is imperative, and extremely urgent to send supplies and assist people living on the other side of the front line, who I'm convinced are in a desperate situation. The suffering continues and until the war is over, we have to continue to support the people of Ukraine, who are living through the horrors the invasion is causing."

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21 February 2023

7 reasons why the world must keep supporting the humanitarian response in Ukraine

That’s one year of unimaginable suffering, loss and destruction. And one year in which the life of every single woman, man and child in Ukraine has been torn apart. Thousands of civilians – including children – have been killed, injured and traumatized. Livelihoods have been devastated and entire cities are in ruins. But despite all this, the people of Ukraine have continually showed the world their incredible sense of solidarity and resilience. They came together to support one another, created thousands of groups of volunteers, and went to the front lines to make sure people trapped could get the support they needed. Humanitarian organizations complemented this effort alongside the incredible support and solidarity from the international community and citizens of every country who stepped in to support Ukraine. Together, we helped 16 million people in Ukraine last year. But one year on, the war is far from over. Here are 7 reasons why the world must keep supporting the humanitarian response in Ukraine. 18 million people need humanitarian assistance When Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, it dramatically escalated a conflict that had been ravaging the east of the country since 2014. Just a few weeks after the full-scale war began, the number of people who needed humanitarian assistance jumped from just below 3 million to almost 18 million. Today, those people still face life-threatening needs. Millions had to flee for their lives and try to settle far from home The war caused a grave displacement crisis not seen in recent history. In the first few months after the invasion, nearly 8 million people were internally displaced in Ukraine. The same number of people fled across borders, leaving behind their families, homes, belongings and jobs. Since then, the displacement crisis has only continued. Almost 5.5 million people returned to their places of origin, and millions more continue to flee from the east. Today, more than 5.5 million people are still internally displaced in Ukraine, and almost 8 million people are refugees. Access to health care, water and electricity is now decimated Last year, almost 70 per cent of attacks on health-care facilities around the world took place in Ukraine, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The country’s hospitals were bombed when people needed them the most, and access to essential health-care services is now decimated, particularly in the east. But it doesn’t stop there. The war has devastated Ukraine’s water system. Millions of people now struggle every day to have safe drinking water, and others are forced to rely on unsafe water sources. The situation is extreme in areas close to both sides of the front line, where some people have now endured an entire year without piped water. This problem began much earlier in Russian-controlled Donetsk. An energy crisis followed the repeated attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure, in October 2022, which added new dimensions to the humanitarian crisis. Hospitals can’t operate without electricity, water can’t be pumped and people can’t heat their homes in the middle of a harsh winter. Ukraine needs support to keep its hospitals functioning, and to ensure people have drinking water and other essential services. Access to education is at risk When Russian forces invaded Bucha, Mykhailo was teaching at the locality’s public school. But he decided to stay inside the school to protect it. Throughout the year, Ukraine’s schools and classrooms have been attacked, destroyed or converted into military bases, severely hampering access to education. Almost 40 per cent of schools in Ukraine must rely on online learning, but even that is now disrupted due to compromised access to electricity and the Internet. Schools that have been preserved still face tremendous challenges, as they are affected by the energy crisis and repeated air raids. Children now spend hour after hour in basements or bunkers when they should be at school. In Ukraine, 5.3 million children need support to ensure they can continue their education. People are dealing with unimaginable trauma The war is leaving deep, invisible scars on the people of Ukraine. Nearly 10 million people are at risk of acute stress, anxiety, depression, substance use and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to WHO. Families have been separated, and every single person in Ukraine has seen a family member or a person they know killed or injured. Their cities, homes, hospitals and even the square they’d take their children to have been bombed. War-related sexual violence is also adding to the horrors caused by the war. It affected mainly women and girls, but also male prisoners of war held by Russian armed forces. Ukrainian men face specific challenges, including military conscription, which impacts their freedom of movement. Agriculture and the economy have been impacted, with profound global implications The war has severely affected Ukraine’s agriculture industry, leaving thousands of farmers without income and one in three families food insecure. Throughout the year, fertile land or crops were destroyed during fighting or hostilities, and harvest and planting seasons were affected. This added to the challenges imposed by the closure of Ukraine’s ports for more than six months, until August 2022. Thousands of people were left without a livelihood at a time when the war was devastating Ukraine's economy. Heavy mine contamination adds to the challenges of resuming agricultural activities, even in areas where hostilities have reduced. In Ukraine and across the world, the lack of availability of and access to seeds, fertilizers, fuel and plant protection products hampered production. Food prices in the global market skyrocketed. It is vital to increase demining activities so that agriculture can resume, rural families can receive support to keep producing food, and ports can open to exports to avoid further disruption of Ukraine’s grain shipments. This will contribute to small farmers’ food security and prevent another global hunger crisis. Millions of people are still not receiving the support they need Since the full-scale war began on 24 February, humanitarians have worked day and night to make sure nearly 16 million people in Ukraine receive the support they need. We organized thousands of convoys to bring food, water, medicine, shelter, hygiene kits and generators to war-torn communities and to people who had fled to the west. We helped people flee from war zones. We carried out the world’s largest humanitarian cash response in history, supporting more than 6 million people in Ukraine. And we are striving to increase our support in mental health, child protection and mine clearance for traumatized people trying to rebuild their lives. Despite all this, the support to communities in Russian-controlled areas is extremely limited. The world has seen how humanitarian diplomacy can change things for the better. We saw it with the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and with the evacuations of civilians from the Azovstal steel plant. We need this same kind of action and diplomacy to help ensure humanitarians in Ukraine can support people, regardless of who they are or where they live. We can and must keep supporting the people of Ukraine. Donate now. By UNOCHA’s Saviano Abreu, with thanks to the Ukraine Humanitarian Country Team Communications Group.

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Press Release

24 March 2023

UN Human Rights Ukraine released reports on treatment of prisoners of war and overall human rights situation in Ukraine

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, I would like to welcome those present here and those joining us online. As many of you will know, our job is to document violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Today, we are launching two reports: one is on the treatment of prisoners of war and the other covers the overall human rights situation in Ukraine over a 6 month period up to 31 January 2023. IMPACT OF HOSTILITIES ON THE CIVILIAN POPULATION The war has come at a horrendous human cost. As of this week, we have documented that more than 8,000 civilians have been killed and almost 14,000 injured. More than 90 per cent were caused by missiles, explosive weapons or mines and explosive remnants of war. The actual figures are unfortunately considerably higher. RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND SECURITY OF PERSONS In occupied areas of Ukraine, we have documented summary executions and attacks on individual civilians by Russian armed forces and the pervasive use of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances. Since 24 February 2022, we have documented 621 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention of civilians by Russian armed forces. Among the 127 that we interviewed after their release, 90 per cent reported that members of the Russian security forces tortured and ill-treated them while in detention, in some cases including sexual violence. Five of these civilians were boys, between 14 and 17 years old, who had been forcibly disappeared by Russian armed forces and subjected to ill-treatment or torture. Since 24 February 2022, we have documented 91 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention committed by Ukrainian security forces. Of the 73 victims we interviewed, 53 per cent had been tortured or ill-treated by members of Ukrainian armed forces and law enforcement agencies. The prohibitions of torture and arbitrary deprivation of life are absolute. All perpetrators must be held to account, and victims and their relatives must enjoy the rights to remedy and truth. In this regard, we welcome the recent adoption by the Parliament of Ukraine of a law amending the Criminal Code to align national legislation with the UN Convention against Torture. The horrendous human cost of the war is also evident in the cases of conflict-related sexual violence, which we have documented since 24 February last year. By 31 January this year, we had recorded 133 victims – comprising of 85 men, 45 women and 3 girls. 109 cases are attributable to Russian armed forces, Russian law enforcement authorities and penitentiary staff, and 24 cases are attributable to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ukrainian police, and Ukrainian civilians or members of territorial defence forces. Sexual violence frequently occurred when civilians or prisoners of war were detained, as well as in residential areas that were controlled by Russian armed forces. We also documented transfers of civilians to areas in occupied territory or to the Russian Federation, some of which may amount to forced transfers or deportations. These transfers include children and adults who lived in social care institutions and unaccompanied children from parts of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv and Odesa regions while they were occupied by the Russian Federation or temporarily controlled by Russian armed forces. PRISONERS OF WAR I will turn now to our report on the treatment of prisoners of war, during all stages of captivity – from initial capture, to transit and then places of internment. Our team interviewed more than 400 prisoners of war, approximately 200 on each side. Ukraine provided us with unimpeded confidential access to official places of internment of Russian prisoners of war. The Russian Federation did not give us access. However, we were able to carry out confidential interviews with Ukrainian POWs upon their release. I will start with Russian prisoners of war in the hands of Ukraine. We are deeply concerned about the summary execution of up to 25 Russian POWs and persons hors de combat by Ukrainian armed forces which we have documented. This was often perpetrated immediately upon capture on the battlefield. While we are aware of ongoing investigations by Ukrainian authorities into five cases involving 22 victims, we are not aware of any prosecutions of the perpetrators. Almost half of the 229 Russian POWs who we interviewed spoke of being tortured or ill-treated by members of Ukrainian armed forces and the SBU, and to a lesser extent penitentiary staff. The majority of these cases occurred during the initial stages of apprehension and interrogation. POWs were beaten, shot in the legs, stabbed in their limbs, electrocuted, subjected to mock executions, threats of sexual violence or death. In permanent places of internment, such as pre-trial facilities, or the POW camp, reports of mistreatment were significantly less. We still received, however, complaints of beatings in some of these facilities in Dnipro, Vinnytsia and Kharkiv last spring. Under international law, prisoners of war should not be held in closed confinement. While many remain in closed confinement in Ukraine, we welcome progress through the establishment of a POW camp in Lviv region in April 2022. We expect that the authorities are addressing complaints of humiliating and degrading treatment, which we received during our visit to the camp in December 2022. No camp has been established by the Russian Federation and POWs are regularly held in closed confinement. In relation to the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, we are also deeply concerned by the summary execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war shortly after being captured by Russian armed forces. The Wagner Group military and security contractors perpetrated 11 of these executions. Of the 203 Ukrainian POWs that we interviewed, 67 per cent fell into the hands of Russian forces after their surrender was negotiated by commanders. In these cases, we saw better protection for them at the beginning of their captivity. However, the majority of Ukrainian prisoners of war who were captured during battle were tortured or ill-treated before internment. Members of Russian armed forces and the Russian Security Service tortured and ill-treated them to extract military information, to intimidate or humiliate them, or as a form of retribution. Forms of torture included beating, electrocution, or in several cases, being shot or stabbed in the legs. Mock executions were also common. The report describes one case, where a POW died from injuries within hours after he was tortured. Conditions for many Ukrainian prisoners of war were shocking. A prisoner of war we spoke to told us – and I quote - “We were provided with just enough food to keep us alive”. Access to medical care was often insufficient, or unavailable, sometimes leading to dire consequences. The report documents that five of them died in internment reportedly due to the lack of medical attention. The number of documented cases of torture and ill-treatment during internment in penitentiary facilities is shocking – more than 84 per cent endured such mistreatment. Penitentiary staff subjected prisoners of war to so-called ‘welcome beatings’ upon their arrival, beat and electrocuted them regularly during inspections in cells or while walking them around the facilities. Members of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Services (FSIN) and those in charge of many places of internment in Russian occupied territory systematically engaged in such practices against POWs. Former POWs told our colleagues that they dreaded weekly trips to the shower which inevitably ended in beatings and humiliation, often with sexual overtones. We documented that five POWs died from injuries sustained during torture in internment. RECOMMENDATIONS The cruelty and large-scale impact on civilians that we have seen over the last year will continue, unless both parties to the conflict ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law. And when violations do occur, prompt action must be taken, first within the ranks of the army itself, and also through full and effective investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for the acts committed and those in command. The cases of summary executions, torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention and sexual violence must not be allowed to continue. It is now over a year since the Russian Federation launched its armed attack against Ukraine, which has led to the violations that I have outlined today. In the words of the High Commissioner, we appeal again “for respect for the sanctity of life, for human dignity, for respect for the principle of humanity”. Thank you.

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Press Release

23 March 2023

Updated Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Needs Assessment

KYIV, — A new joint assessment released today by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the United Nations, estimates that the cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine has grown to US $411 billion (equivalent of €383 billion). The estimate covers the one-year period from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, to the first anniversary of the war on February 24, 2023. The cost of reconstruction and recovery is expected to stretch over 10 years and combines both needs for public and private funds. This second Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA2) provides a comprehensive evaluation of war impacts across twenty different sectors. It quantifies the direct physical damage to infrastructure and buildings and describes the impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. The RDNA2 also includes the amounts needed for recovery and reconstruction. The RDNA2 estimates Ukraine will need $14 billion for critical and priority reconstruction and recovery investments in 2023. Meeting these needs will require $11 billion in financing beyond what the government has already addressed in its 2023 budget, including $6 billion in unfunded budget needs and another $5 billion in financing to support state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and catalyze the private sector. "Conducting the second Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment is an important element in Ukraine's reconstruction strategy. We are grateful to the World Bank for an up-to-date and thorough analysis, which will become an important tool for us and our partners in the implementation of recovery projects - recovery that has already begun. Energy infrastructure, housing, critical infrastructure, economy and humanitarian demining are our five priorities for this year. Part of the reconstruction work has already been done, and I am grateful to our partners from the EU, the USA, and the World Bank. The amount of damage and recovery needs currently does not include data on the loss of infrastructure, housing and businesses in the occupied territories. When the defense forces release them, we expect that the data will be supplemented, and the Government will immediately begin restoration work in these territories," said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said: “Each day that goes by, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is taking a heavy toll for the citizens of Ukraine and the socio-economic fabric of the country. The EU is determined to continue supporting Ukraine, now a candidate country, with all its tools and instruments at its disposal for as long as it takes. The rapid needs assessment will help donors channel funds to the priority sectors on the ground. The EU is fully focused on ensuring fast recovery and ensure basic services for the population, namely energy, education and health infrastructure and housing”. The RDNA2 assessment finds the total estimated reconstruction and recovery needs to be US$411 billion, 2.6 times the country’s estimated 2022 GDP. The needs – estimated for the next decade – consider inflation, market conditions, surge pricing in areas of mass construction, higher insurance premiums, and a shift in the future towards lower energy intensity and more resilient, inclusive, and modern design. The highest estimated needs are in transport (22 percent), housing (17 percent), energy (11 percent), social protection and livelihoods (10 percent), explosive hazard management (9 percent), and agriculture (7 percent). The largest proportionate increase in damages was in energy, where damage was more than five times greater than in June 2022. The geographic areas with the greatest increase in needs are frontline regions of the war: Donetska, Kharkivska, Luhanska, and Khersonska. “Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction will take several years but the good news is that the country’s resilience and determination as well as partner support during the invasion is containing damages and reducing the needs,” said World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde. “Continued support for Ukraine is an investment in both the country and the global economy. Development partner support for public investment needs to be complemented by significant private investment to increase the available financing for reconstruction.” Denise Brown, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine said: “Behind every home or hospital, or school destroyed, a Ukrainian life is affected. Loss of a life, lack of access to proper health care for pregnant women and the elderly or a child who is not able to go to school. While the psychological trauma is incalculable, the RDNA2 is just the beginning of the estimation of loss. But somethings can't be rebuilt.” The estimates from both Rapid Damage and Needs Assessments issued to date should be considered as minimums as needs will continue to rise as long as the war continues. But the damages since the release of RDNA1 have not escalated as much as could have been expected due to several factors. First, the most intense conflict has remained constrained to areas that already faced significant damage. Also, some of the country’s needs have been met by the Government of Ukraine with the support of its partners. For example, in the health sector over 500 affected health care facilities have been partially or fully repaired; the energy and transport sectors have benefited from the provision of equipment, materials and financing to make rapid repairs. In addition, the ability to keep the government functioning and essential services flowing, which has helped to limit the escalation of recovery and reconstruction costs. The report finds direct damages to buildings and infrastructure comes to more than US$135 billion across the following most affected areas: housing (37 percent), transport (26 percent), energy (8 percent), commerce and industry (8 percent), and agriculture (6 percent). Energy, housing and transport sectors have seen the greatest increase in direct damages, since the RDNA1 estimates. Agricultural damage is also significantly higher, reflecting both increased asset destruction and more precise data. The RDNA2 also focuses on the human impact of the war and how the loss of lives, livelihoods, incomes, and assets has pushed 7.1 million people into poverty and reversed 15 years of development progress. The report also highlights that the impacts of the war have exacerbated inequalities and in particular affected women, children and people with disabilities and resulted in dramatic setbacks in the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to poverty, health, education, economic growth, energy, peace and justice. This report benefited from the generous financial support of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and Digital Development Partnership (DDP). The full report: https://ukraine.un.org/en/224376-ukraine-rapid-damage-and-needs-assessment World Bank in Ukraine: https://www.worldbank.org/ukraine Contacts: World Bank: In Washington: Amy Stilwell +1 (202) 458-4906; astilwell@worldbankgroup.org; For Broadcast Requests: David W. Young, (202) 473-4691, dyoung7@worldbankgroup.org United Nations in Ukraine: Nadiia Kyzytska, National Media Officer, <nadiia.kyzytska@un.org> +380 50 900 2297

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Press Release

21 March 2023

UN Human Rights Office to release new reports on treatment of prisoners of war and overall human rights situation in Ukraine

HRMMU Head of Mission Matilda Bogner will present the reports at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday 24 March 2023 at 13:00 local time (11:00 UTC) at the Ukraine Crisis Media Centre (2 Khreshchatyk Street, (Ukrainian House), Kyiv). The press conference will be in English, with interpretation into Ukrainian and sign language.
LIVE stream will be available here. Background: Deployed in March 2014, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine monitors, publicly reports on and advocates for the human rights situation in the country with the aim of fostering access to justice and bringing perpetrators to account. In the aftermath of the armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the Mission has been fully dedicated to monitoring how the attack has impacted the human rights situation in the country. HRMMU has relocated some of its operations due to the hostilities and is now present in Kyiv, Uzhhorod, Odesa, Dnipro and Poltava, as well as in Kraków and Chișinău, and conducts regular visits to other cities. The Mission continues to remotely monitor the human rights situation in Crimea. Every day, human rights officers speak to victims and witnesses of human rights violations throughout the country, including those in territory occupied by the Russian Federation. ENDS For more information or interviews requests, please contact: Kris Janowski at +380952300437 krzysztof.janowski@un.org Kateryna Girniak at +380504868364 kateryna.girniak@un.org

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Press Release

17 March 2023

Procurement and Vendor Fair in Kyiv – Invitation to Ukrainian businesses

Date and time: 28 March 2023, from 13:00 to 19:00 Venue: Intercontinental Kyiv Hotel, 2A Velyka Zhytomyrska St, and online via Zoom. The event aims to raise awareness among Ukrainian businesses about UN procurement practices, and offers a unique platform for participants to learn about the work of UN agencies in Ukraine, as well as the categories of goods and services procured through the UN procurement platform. The event is expected to draw many attendees, including around 200 businesses in person, government officials, UN representatives, and business communities. In addition to an overall presentation on UN procurements, the event will feature panel discussions with UN agencies and businesses who have already worked with international organizations. These discussions will focus on good practices, bidding procedures, past experiences, and legislative bottlenecks. We are welcoming Ukrainian businesses to participate in the event. Please register for the event via link before 23 March 23:59. Event language: Ukrainian and English. Background information: In 2021, the United Nations (UN) worldwide procurement amounted to USD 29.5 billion. Of this amount, Ukrainian businesses secured USD 213 million in procurement contracts, accounting for 0.72% of the total. The UN's procurement volumes for humanitarian response and recovery efforts in Ukraine experienced a significant increase and are expected to continue to rise in 2023. The UN presence in Ukraine consists of 24 entities, many of which have a substantial procurement. In 2022, local suppliers of food commodities, goods, and services secured almost USD 300 million in procurement contracts from the UN. For queries, please contact Mariia Lemberg at mariia.lemberg@un.org, and Ahmad Mohseni at ahmad.mohseni@un.org

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