Powering Through the Cold

Winter has always been difficult in Ukraine, but this year, it is one of the coldest in decades.   As temperatures drop, millions of people are facing daily life without drinking water, reliable electricity or heating, following repeated attacks on energy infrastructure that have disrupted power supplies across the country. For many households, keeping warm has become a daily challenge.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s energy system has been under continuous attacks. Power plants, substations, and transmission lines have been damaged or destroyed, leading to widespread outages and rolling blackouts. While repairs continue, insecurity and access constraints mean that many communities, across the country, remain vulnerable to prolonged disruptions.

With an estimated 10.8 million people in need, humanitarians aim to reach 4.1 million of the most vulnerable, prioritizing those experiencing the most severe conditions.  

In response, United Nations agencies, working closely with the Government of Ukraine and humanitarian partners, are supporting communities to meet immediate needs while also laying the groundwork for greater resilience. 

Beyond Darkness: The Human Impact 

When the energy infrastructure is under attack, the consequences are immediate; heating systems stop, water pumps fall silent, and communication becomes unreliable. For older people, peoplewith disabilities, and those living alone, extended outages can quickly turn dangerous. 

Healthcare facilities face even bigger risks. Since early 2022, the WHO has verified at least 2841 attacks on health care causing a number of facilities to close. Remaining ones depend on uninterrupted power to operate surgical equipment, preserve medicines, and provide emergency care. Schools, already disrupted by the war, struggle to keep classrooms functioning when heating and electricity cannot be guaranteed. 

The impact is not only physical. The uncertainty of never knowing when the next blackout will come or whether heating will last through the night, adds to the psychological strain carried by communities affected by years of  war. 

As Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, has warned, “Attacks on energy infrastructure risk leaving hospitals and homes without electricity and heating during these coldest months of the year.” He also highlighted the situation regarding basic needs, “Parents cannot prepare hot meals for their children, and many older people have been left isolated in cold homes yet again.” 

Emergency Support When It Matters Most 

To address urgent needs, the United Nations, through its agencies, has mobilized emergency assistance to stabilize essential services. Generators, fuel, transformers, and spare parts have been delivered to hospitals, heating and water utilities, shelters, and collective sites, helping them continue operating during power outages. 

UNICEF is maintaining access to heating and safe drinking water, as both systems are often the first to shut down when electricity fails. By providing generators and backup equipment, the organization helps prevent shortages, reduce health risks, and enable the continuity of essential services in communities. In parallel, WHO and UNICEF have supported hospitals and primary healthcare centers with alternative power sources, ensuring continuity of care, particularly in areas close to the front line. 

Reflecting on the broader impact of these attacks, Matthias Schmale emphasized that “this systematic cycle of attacks on energy infrastructure violates international humanitarian law and must stop.” 

Keeping Homes Warm

As winter sets in, heating becomes one of the most urgent priorities. UNHCR and partners have distributed winter insultation kits, heaters, and cash support to help families buy firewood or other winter necessities and cover heating costs. In addition, winter repairs and insulation work is carried out on private homes as well as in collective centers, hosting the most vulnerable internally displaced people. For displaced people or war-affected families living in war-damaged housing, this support can be decisive.

The IOM has worked at the community level, helping rehabilitate heating systems in collective centers and providing energy‑efficient equipment. These interventions not only address immediate needs but also help reduce energy consumption over time.

Across the country, the “Invincibility points,” heated public spaces equipped with electricity, water, and internet have become critical during extended outages. UN agencies have supported those spaces with equipment and supplies so they can serve as safe havens when homes lose power.

Matthias Schmale has stressed that “the whole neighborhoods of the cities end up without heating, power or water supply after each attack for many hours, days or even months. We are particularly worried about vulnerable people – children, the elderly and people with disabilities.”  

Building Resilience 

While emergency aid remains vital, the United Nations is also supporting longer-term energy resilience in Ukraine. UNDP leads efforts on decentralized, rapidly deployable systems—like distributed generators, modular heating, renewable energy, and battery storage—to reduce reliance on vulnerable, centralized infrastructure.

UNOPS strengthened Ukraine’s energy resilience by delivering over $45 million in heating equipment to Kharkiv, including modular boiler houses to reduce reliance on centralized systems. In Mykolaiv, 10 emergency repair vehicles were provided to local heating companies - two were recently deployed to Kyiv after major attacks. UNOPS also supplied 100 generators to the State Emergency Service, some of which powered homes in Kyiv during January outages.

In partnership with local authorities, UNDP is installing solar panels and batteries for critical facilities such as hospitals, schools, and water systems, alongside energy-efficiency measures like improved insulation and upgraded heating.  

At the same time, UNIDO is helping Ukraine’s industrial sector improve energy efficiency, implement international management standards, and access financing, protecting production, jobs, and energy security amid ongoing disruptions. UNICEF is helping schools improve their heating and energy resilience through grants that enable them to repair and upgrade their systems. 
These initiatives help communities endure the current crisis while building a more sustainable, resilient recovery. 

Coordination at the Core

The scale of the energy crisis requires close coordination. Across Ukraine, UN agencies work together to align humanitarian and early recovery efforts, ensuring support reaches those most in need.  

Coordination with national and local authorities is equally important. Ukrainian energy workers continue repairing damaged infrastructure under extremely challenging conditions. UN support complements these efforts by addressing urgent pressing needs while strengthening local capacity.

Matthias Schmale has warned that ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure, combined with freezing winter temperatures, could create “a nightmare scenario” for civilians. He added that if the destruction continues, “our biggest nightmare is thousands of people stuck in high-rise buildings without electricity, heating or water.”

Looking Ahead: Energy, Dignity, and Recovery

The energy crisis in Ukraine is a reminder that the impact of war extends far beyond visible destruction. It reaches homes, hospitals, and schools, shaping daily life in ways that are often unseen. Yet, amid these challenges, communities continue to endure.

By combining emergency support with longer‑term initiatives, UN agencies are helping Ukrainians cope with immediate hardship while preserving dignity and safety.  As Matthias Schmale has emphasized, “access to energy is about far more than light and heat, it is about dignity, stability, and the ability to live with a sense of normalcy, even in the midst of war.”

As Ukraine faces an uncertain winter and ongoing challenges, sustained global support and investment in resilient energy solutions remain essential, not only to power homes and hospitals, but to support recovery and hope for the future.