Winter aid reaches nearly 1 million vulnerable Ukrainians

"Now that we have heating, we can focus on our children’s education," said Anastasiia, a mother of three who fled the Donetsk Region and endured Ukraine’s harsh winter in a new, unfamiliar home. Like nearly a million other Ukrainians, she relied on humanitarian aid to survive months of freezing temperatures, blackouts and relentless attacks. 

During recent winter months, aid workers repaired homes, delivered heaters and warm clothing, and supported people most at risk. Behind every act of assistance is a story of resilience and survival. These stories remind us that while the snowmelts, the war’s toll remains heavy. 

Keeping warm in Ukraine’s north 

Anastasiia and her husband, who fled the hostilities with their three daughters, settled in Khlopianyky village, in Chernihiv Region. But they struggled to make ends meet as they began rebuilding their lives.

"We are trying to settle in despite the challenges," Anastasiia said. 

The family installed new windows to better insulate their new home. Firewood was hard to come by, but they were able to purchase enough wood to stay warm throughout the winter thanks to support from OCHA’s implementing partner ZOA, an international non-governmental organization. The OCHA-managed Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) enabled cash assistance to the family. 

Serhii, Olha and their two children also fled constant shelling in eastern Ukraine and resettled in Khlopianyky. But their new home lacked insulation and proper heating, making the cold unbearable. 

Thanks to UHF-funded support from ZOA, they received cash assistance to install energy-efficient windows and buy firewood. 

"The difference is incredible," said Olha, who works as a school boiler operator. "Now our home is warm, and I no longer worry about my children getting sick. We can finally focus on building a new life."
 

Three years without central heating 

Tetiana, 65, has spent the past three winters without central heating in her home in Eskhar village, Kharkiv Region. The boiler station connected to her apartment was destroyed in the war, leaving Tetiana and her neighbours to find other ways to keep warm. 

"The war changed everything. We’re just surviving," she said. 

Living on a modest pension, Tetiana installed a wood-burning stove and bought firewood, unsure if it would last through the winter. 

This year, the NEW WAY Charitable Foundation provided Tetiana with a winter kit that included a warm blanket, a thermos and a portable stove. 

"Every bit helps. Thank you for thinking of us," she said, hopeful for a more peaceful future. 

Briquettes that made a difference 

Last winter in Kherson Region was unbearable for Larysa, 58, and her family. They resorted to burning trash and nutshells to stay warm, sleeping in coats under layers of blankets. 

This January they received 3.5 tons of sunflower briquettes through DanChurchAid, Norwegian Church Aid and local partner the Southern Development Strategy. Their shattered windows were also replaced. 

"Now we can finally sleep in pyjamas," Larysa  said. As a social worker, she knows many others in her village face the same struggle: "Without support, people would freeze."

Displacement and hope

Olena and her three children have been displaced six times in three years. Forced to leave their home near the Russian border, they sheltered in a basement before eventually fleeing. 

"Anna has struggled the most," said Olena, referring to her daughter. "She keeps losing her friends each time we move." 

Their cat, which they carried during every relocation, has been a source of comfort. 

The family struggled to afford rent and heating. Save the Children, in partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Business Support Centers, and with support from UHF, provided them with firewood to keep their home warm throughout the winter. 

“Our biggest wish is for stability and a permanent home,” said Anna.

Humanitarian aid continues to provide vital support, but people’s needs remain high as the war grinds on. 

Since the war escalated in February 2022, UHF has become the world’s largest Country-Based Pooled Fund. Over the past three years, it has delivered life-saving support to nearly 7 million people across Ukraine, and in 2024 it provided US$162 million through three funding allocations to nearly 60 partners. Sixty per cent of those funds went to local non-governmental organizations. This support provided critical assistance to more than 700,000 people across Ukraine, mostly in front-line regions.

With continued support, more families can stay warm, safe and hopeful for the future.