Latest
Press Release
24 February 2025
Statement by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, on the third-year mark of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
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Press Release
21 February 2025
Civilian Harm and Human Rights Abuses Persist in Ukraine as War Enters Fourth Year
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Speech
21 February 2025
Remarks by Matthias Schmale, Assistant Secretary-General, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, at the Palais Press Briefing
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals 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:
Publication
11 February 2025
Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict — January 2025
SummaryAt least 139 civilians were killed and 738 injured in Ukraine in January 2025, a 39 per cent increase from December 2024, and 27 per cent higher than casualties in January 2024 (169 killed; 524 injured).The vast majority of civilian casualties (89 per cent) and damage to educational and health facilities (93 per cent) occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine.Short-range drones, including First-Person-View drones, caused the highest number of casualties in January, exceeding the impact of any other weapon. In government-controlled parts of Kherson region, this weapon accounted for 70 percent of the casualties.Several attacks in Zaporizhzhia City on 8, 18, and 23 January caused a high number of civilian casualties (17 killed; 176 injured), contributing to the overall January increase.The majority of casualties (81 per cent) occurred near the frontline, primarily in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.Russian armed forces conducted a large-scale, coordinated attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on 15 January, damaging at least four gas production, transportation and storage facilities in three regions. The attacks resulted in emergency power outages in seven regions of the country., filtered_html
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Story
07 February 2025
Rental support for displaced families: a bridge from collective sites to private accommodation and a new start
22 days in Mariupol – and Yuliia was counting each of them: from the first hours of the Russian full-scale invasion until her evacuation from the besieged city on 17 March 2022. Together with her older parents, she survived massive airstrikes on Mariupol and a cold basement of the Drama Theatre where hundreds of people hid from the bombs. Then the aerial attack came that destroyed this city landmark, where many people were sheltering inside.“The theatre was full of people, and I remember hiding behind a column when a bomb hit the building. There was unimaginable chaos. I reached out to my mother who was lying on the floor with blood pouring from her head,” Yuliia recalls. “The next day after the attack, volunteers helped to evacuate injured people, and I left city the with my mother. My father stayed behind and was able to flee Mariupol only in April.”Yuliia tells her story, sitting in a bright apartment in Vinnytsia – the city that has become her second home almost three years after the start of the full-scale war. Thanks to UNHCR’s Rental Market Initiative (RMI), implemented with its NGO partner Medair, Yuliia and her family were able to find safe and comfortable housing in Vinnytsia. After months of living in an overcrowded apartment offered by friends and grappling with the costs of her mother’s medical treatment, they applied for rental assistance. “Without this assistance, we would not have survived last winter. It was not the end of our struggles, but the beginning of a new life. It gave us a sense of safety as we knew that we have a roof during cold months. We could not afford to rent such place at that time, but since then I have been able to find a job to support my parents, so we can now look into the future with hope,” Yuliia says. UNHCR’s Rental Market Initiative was initially launched in 2023, and the programme was extended in 2024 to 11 regions of Ukraine. So far, almost 2,100 internally displaced families have been supported to move out from collective sites or other short-term accommodation to homes that they can rent for a longer period. The assistance includes cash support to cover rent and utilities for several months, as well as legal counseling to conclude rental agreements and improvement of living conditions in the new apartments. In addition, the programme focuses on access to job opportunities and re-skilling as a way to enable the families to become self-sufficient and continue paying the rent, once the rental assistance from UNHCR ends. Similarly, the rental support was a “lifeline” for Nataliia who fled the occupied city of Bakhmut in Donetsk region with her daughter Tetiana. At first, they were evacuated from the regular shelling to a collective site in Lviv, then to Vinnytsia where they stayed in a 12-square-metre room in a shared apartment.Without jobs, incomes and a network in their new community, having their own place to live was a dream which became a reality with UNHCR’s support. “In our rented apartment, we have a separate kitchen and a bathroom which is crucial for us as my daughter lives with a disability,” says Nataliia. The support was much bigger than just the cash for rent. Through the programme, Tetiana bought a tablet and also received counselling about job opportunities enabling her to find online employment and work from home. “Without this assistance, I cannot imagine what our lives would be now,” Nataliia adds. According to UNHCR and partners’ follow-up with the families who have received support from the Rental Market Initiative, 99 per cent indicated that they have financial stability to continue renting their home after the end of the cash assistance payments. Thanks to the support provided under the programme, 61 per cent of the displaced people who did not have employment before were able to find jobs and become self-reliant, which have both contributed to their inclusion in the host community and helped improve their mental well-being. One of them was single mother Ryta who was displaced with her son Andrii to Vinnytsia from Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region. Like many others, the family initially moved between several temporary accommodations. At one point, they stayed in a collective site in a dormitory, and later in a tiny room in a shared apartment, before they were able to rent a more spacious apartment through UNHCR’s Rental Market Initiative. With the rental expenses covered by the programme, Ryta was able to focus on what mattered the most – her son’s education and tuition fees for university. He has now graduated, and both mother and son are employed and able to independently provide for themselves.“The programme lasted for six months, but it provided us with an opportunity to plan for the future, not thinking where we would live tomorrow, and start a new life. We were able to adjust to a new reality and preserve our faith in the future,” Ryta says. UNHCR and partners will continue the programme in 2025., filtered_html
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Story
20 January 2025
Children find safe haven at barrier-free spaces in Kharkiv
Nine-year-old Vanya, who lives in the town of Zlatopil in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, is like many boys. He loves construction, Minecraft and learning. The war disrupted his studies – but, for the last four months, he has been thriving thanks to sessions with a developmental specialist, speech therapist, psychologist and rehabilitation therapist.“Today, we counted and played,” the boy says, happily. “I like to build and draw.”Vanya has been able to attend these sessions since the summer, thanks to a project that provides tailored support to children with disabilities, in safe and barrier-free inclusive spaces. “It inspires you”Ten children attend the daily classes in the barrier-free space in Zlatopil. Many of them have speech, vision, hearing, musculoskeletal, intellectual, autism and learning needs.“Thanks to these developmental classes, many children are making progress. We are very pleased that children who did not speak at all are gradually starting to speak. And the parents are very grateful. They tell us: ‘Thank you!’ And you say to them: ‘Thank you!’ Because it inspires you to move on," - says Liubov Pohretska, psychologist who coordinates the project in Zlatopil. Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the school Vanya attends has been operating online, but some classes are held on its premises to overcome educational losses.“Vanya is happy to attend these classes,” says Iryna, the boy's mother. “I think he would like to come here even more often. Because he lacks communication. And doing home exercises will never replace lessons with specialists.”“The children are all very different”Before the project was launched in Zlatopil, parents of children with disabilities had to search for specialists and teachers for their children’s educational needs on their own. Sometimes, they even had to travel to Kharkiv, almost 90 kilometres away, for classes. “There are practical psychologists, rehabilitation therapists and speech therapists in our community,” explains Liubov Pohretska. “But, unfortunately, we did not have a developmental specialist. And before, parents of children with autism spectrum disorders had to travel far for sensory integration. And the main problem is that these classes are very expensive. During the war, local residents, especially internally displaced people, simply do not have the money for this.”Tetiana, a child development teacher, comes to Zlatopil from Kharkiv once a week to visit her students. She works with six children and tries to find an individual approach for each one. “The children are all very different. Each child is interesting in their own way. I prepare teaching materials for each lesson, and bring some balls and slides with me. Usually, children like outdoor games. For example, Vanya told me that he loves Minecraft, so I brought him blocks similar to those in this game. And in the process, we also studied numbers,” - says Tetiana, a child development teacher.The opening of these inclusive spaces is part of a comprehensive UNICEF project funded by the Government of Germany, the German Federal Foreign Office, Norway, the Committee for UNICEF Switzerland, and France, implemented in 20 communities in the Kharkiv region. The activities focus on provide access to quality education for children with disabilities, creating a safe learning environment, supporting their developmental needs, and enabling them to socialise with other people. The project aims to support the learning and development of 3,500 children with disabilities. It involves more than 50 specialists, including developmental specialists, speech therapists, psychologists and rehabilitation specialists, conducting more than 4,000 classes by the end of the year. The programme includes the purchase of specialised equipment and the creation of resource rooms in educational institutions. The programme also organizes support groups for parents, educational training, and psychological counselling to help children adapt to the educational environment.Activities focus on integrating children with disabilities into society, which is particularly important amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, through the development of communication, cognitive and social skills. , filtered_html
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Publication
15 April 2024
Annual Recovery Results Report 2023 - United Nations in Ukraine
- Foreword by the Resident Coordinator - In the third year of the full-scale Russia’s invasion, the
scourge of war is still bringing untold suffering and sorrow
to the people of Ukraine. The invasion, launched in violation
of the UN Charter and international law, has left thousands
of civilians killed and injured, caused massive destruction of
infrastructure, including hundreds of thousands of homes,
hospitals and schools, and deeply traumatized people regardless
of proximity to the front line. The war has shattered
the Ukrainian economy; rolling back development gains
made over the past years and plunging nearly 25 per cent
of people into poverty.The people of Ukraine are taking upon themselves the
monumental task to recover from the devastation caused
by the invasion. With remarkable and inspiring determination,
and no matter if they are close to the front line or in
communities where they have found safety and security,
Ukrainians are supporting one another to ensure their
communities are functioning, small shops are running,
schools are repaired and rebuilt with shelters so children
can attend in-person, hospitals and clinics reconstructed,
roads and bridges repaired and agricultural land and critical
and social infrastructure demined.The UN, the humanitarian community and our development
partners continue to work non-stop to ensure people enduring
the horrors of the war receive the support they need to
address their most immediate needs and also create the
conditions for their recovery. In 2023, more than 11 million
people received life-saving humanitarian assistance. This
achievement was made possible thanks to the efforts
of over 500 organizations – nearly 70 per cent of them
Ukrainian NGOs - our close collaboration with the authorities,
and the timely support of our donors.We have also scaled up our efforts to support recovery, with
more and more activities that provide people with durable
solutions and ensure they can get back on their feet. The UN
made significant contributions to Ukraine’s journey towards
a prosperous future: supporting strong data collection and
analysis to inform recovery priorities – including the third
Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) and the
Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) of the Kakhovka
Dam’s destruction; creating platforms to engage communities
in the decision-making and forums to bring together
Government, donors and civil society; supporting small
businesses; repairing vital infrastructure; and contributing
to demining efforts and beyond.The UN –our 3,000 employees and 24 agencies – is determined
to continue supporting the Government’s recovery
priorities with investments in Ukraine’s communities, human
capital and national systems, and ensure recovery takes
into consideration the specific needs of women, people
with disabilities and marginalized groups.
Despite the progress, these efforts are not enough to stop
the suffering and devastating consequences of Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine. The world – and the international
community – cannot accept war as the new reality. Living
under constant bombardment, constant fear, is not normal.
For this reason, war as a state of existence for people in
Ukraine, must not be normalized. Every effort must continue
towards a just peace in line with the UN Charter.
Denise Brown
Resident Coordinator
United Nations in Ukraine, filtered_html
scourge of war is still bringing untold suffering and sorrow
to the people of Ukraine. The invasion, launched in violation
of the UN Charter and international law, has left thousands
of civilians killed and injured, caused massive destruction of
infrastructure, including hundreds of thousands of homes,
hospitals and schools, and deeply traumatized people regardless
of proximity to the front line. The war has shattered
the Ukrainian economy; rolling back development gains
made over the past years and plunging nearly 25 per cent
of people into poverty.The people of Ukraine are taking upon themselves the
monumental task to recover from the devastation caused
by the invasion. With remarkable and inspiring determination,
and no matter if they are close to the front line or in
communities where they have found safety and security,
Ukrainians are supporting one another to ensure their
communities are functioning, small shops are running,
schools are repaired and rebuilt with shelters so children
can attend in-person, hospitals and clinics reconstructed,
roads and bridges repaired and agricultural land and critical
and social infrastructure demined.The UN, the humanitarian community and our development
partners continue to work non-stop to ensure people enduring
the horrors of the war receive the support they need to
address their most immediate needs and also create the
conditions for their recovery. In 2023, more than 11 million
people received life-saving humanitarian assistance. This
achievement was made possible thanks to the efforts
of over 500 organizations – nearly 70 per cent of them
Ukrainian NGOs - our close collaboration with the authorities,
and the timely support of our donors.We have also scaled up our efforts to support recovery, with
more and more activities that provide people with durable
solutions and ensure they can get back on their feet. The UN
made significant contributions to Ukraine’s journey towards
a prosperous future: supporting strong data collection and
analysis to inform recovery priorities – including the third
Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) and the
Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) of the Kakhovka
Dam’s destruction; creating platforms to engage communities
in the decision-making and forums to bring together
Government, donors and civil society; supporting small
businesses; repairing vital infrastructure; and contributing
to demining efforts and beyond.The UN –our 3,000 employees and 24 agencies – is determined
to continue supporting the Government’s recovery
priorities with investments in Ukraine’s communities, human
capital and national systems, and ensure recovery takes
into consideration the specific needs of women, people
with disabilities and marginalized groups.
Despite the progress, these efforts are not enough to stop
the suffering and devastating consequences of Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine. The world – and the international
community – cannot accept war as the new reality. Living
under constant bombardment, constant fear, is not normal.
For this reason, war as a state of existence for people in
Ukraine, must not be normalized. Every effort must continue
towards a just peace in line with the UN Charter.
Denise Brown
Resident Coordinator
United Nations in Ukraine, filtered_html
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Story
21 February 2025
Unbreakable: Ukrainians who never stop
Throughout these years, Ukrainians, with the support of partners, continue to develop, support each other, and adapt to new conditions.The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, together with partners, supports the country's development and resilience by helping communities, businesses, and state institutions overcome the challenges of war and build the future. After the full-scale invasion in 2022, the organization's activities significantly expanded.UNDP provides comprehensive support to Ukraine, including helping to respond to emergencies and supporting long-term development initiatives. Key areas include: strengthening democratic governance and social cohesion, supporting inclusive economic development, mine action, debris removal, transition to green energy, infrastructure restoration, strengthening the rule of law and access to justice, and climate change resilience.The stories in this photo project tell of resilience, mutual assistance, development, and the innovative spirit of people who are helping to rebuild their country.Fulfilling a dream and finding a new purpose Ivan Batrak spent his entire life in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, where he worked as a coal miner. In 2023, he suffered a severe spinal injury due to a rocket attack. This brought Ivan to the UNBROKEN rehabilitation centre in Lviv.“I spent several months in the hospital,” he recalls. “During a therapeutic walk around the city, when I was first taken outside, I said I needed to go to a barbershop to tidy myself up because I had gotten a bit scruffy.”The barber who cut his hair was forming a group for training. It seemed like fate: Batrak had dreamed of becoming a barber back in Pokrovsk, but never had the time to learn a new trade. After completing the training, he now works in a barbershop that serves those undergoing rehabilitation at UNBROKEN. The centre’s barbershop setup and training programme were made possible with the assistance of UNDP and financial support from the governments of Germany and the Republic of Korea. They helped renovate a space of over 30 square metres, and provided professional equipment, barber’s chairs for training, and supplies. For many of his clients, a haircut is like a breath of fresh air (just as it once was for Batrak himself). Thanks to the support of the rehabilitation centre and the employment opportunity, Batrak is confident he can overcome his challenges. “It's important to provide jobs for people who have been injured and need to adapt to a new life,” says Batrak.“Because this is about socialization and communication. Instead of lying at home, I get up, get ready, and go somewhere I can be useful.”War can't stop Olympic dreams All educational institutions take pride in their graduates, but for the Mykolaiv Professional College of Physical Culture, it is a particular joy to count the number of their students that have competed in the Olympic Games: Over 30 athletes who have represented Ukraine in international competitions (such as multiple medalist Olha Kharlan) studied at the college in Mykolaiv.The college continued to operate even after the beginning of the full-scale invasion. However, missile strikes then caused damage to both its dormitory and academic building.“After the first hit to the dormitory roof, everything was badly damaged here,” says Petrukhina. “We tidied up the academic building a bit, covering the windows with plywood. But then there was a second strike on the building next to the academic building. And again, the blast wave damaged our building.” Petrukhina has dedicated over 20 years to helping nurture generations of outstanding Ukrainian athletes. The college offers students and pupils a choice of 18 sports, and currently, there are 235 children studying here, of whom 140 reside in Mykolaiv and study in the academic building. The continued operation of the college has been made possible through the support of the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine, which helped restore the damaged building. Repairs to the dormitory are ongoing, so students from other cities continue their studies online. However, Petrukhina believes that all students will soon return to the college's premises.“Our kids are continuing to learn and develop,” she says. “Sport is life. When you look at the children who are training, striving to achieve their goals, you yourself become inspired. You see the results of all the efforts made. We teach them, and they teach us.”A New Calling: Freeing the land from mines After being wounded, Oleksandr Tarasovsky completed a course in mine action and is now preparing to clear Ukrainian lands of mines.Before the war, he switched between professions: he was an actor, a bartender, and worked in an auto repair shop. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he volunteered for the front, where he suffered a mine-explosive injury to his arm. After leaving the military, he searched for his place in civilian life: practicing jiu-jitsu at a veterans' club and trying to return to his former work.“I tried working as a bartender again, but I didn't feel like I belonged,” Tarasovsky explains. “I wanted to be useful to the country.”In December 2023, he learned about a humanitarian demining course for veterans with disabilities organized by the Ministry of Economy and UNDP with support from the Netherlands and Sweden. He also completed courses in tactical medicine and is now preparing to work for the international company Global Clearance Solutions Ukraine.“Land is perhaps the greatest resource that can be utilized for the country's future, but now it's full of mines,” Tarasovsky says. “What could be more important than freeing the land of mines?”From math teacher to solar pioneer In war-torn Ukraine, 36-year-old Maria Burenina is working for asustainable future in Chernihiv region. Together with her husband Oleh, Burenina has transformed their family business from installing heating systems to mounting solar power stations, addressing the critical need for electricity in an area severely affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion.“The most rewarding moment is when you press the button, and everything works – the client's satisfaction is priceless,” Burenina smiles, describing the rewards of her work process, which involves extensive calculations, equipment installation, and system integration.Initially handling office tasks in their joint venture, Burenina’s background as a mathematics and computer science teacher has proved invaluable in her latest career. Her growing passion for the technical aspects of their work led her to a unique opportunity: a training programme for women in solar power station installation, organized by GEF, the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine, and Atmosfera, a major solar equipment importer. The intensive course covered both theory and practice. Ten women, including Burenina, learned how to perform calculations and understand the specifics of operating the equipment before traveling to Kyiv for hands-on training. They practiced on roof mock-ups, mastering field work and high-altitude installation techniques.“I loved every minute of the training,” Burenina enthuses. “Now, we have ambitions to do more. People aren’t even asking about the payback period anymore. They say, ‘I’m buying comfort. I don't want to suffer from non-functioning appliances and heating.’ Our work will always be needed.”Young leaders transform OdesaBrought together by the VidNOVA:UA national programme, which engages young people in rebuilding Ukraine with support from the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine and with funding from Denmark and Japan – Mariia Chilei and Yevhen Popiesko worked on rebuilding spaces to become youth centres. They drew inspiration from dynamic cities, vibrant people, and enriching activities they experienced while taking part in VidNOVA:UA themselves. Before joining the programme, Chilei was aware there were training sessions and projects, but she only found out about VidNOVA:UA through and advertisement on Facebook. She applied, and eventually, both she and Popiesko were selected: Chilei went to Mukachevo, and Popiesko to Rokytne and Manevychi. “The experience we gained is irreplaceable,” Chilei says. “Afterward, it feels like you can achieve anything.”Returning home inspired, in August 2024 they organized a VidNOVA:UA project in their native Odesa, inviting participants from 11 regions of Ukraine to renovate the city's municipal youth centre. Together, they revitalized the neglected semi-basement rooms by stripping them down, plastering, and painting them.But that was not all: Chilei, who was also the founder of the Ukrainian National Space NGO, and Yevhen, a project manager and trainer, also aimed to show off a different, authentic side of Odesa to the VidNOVA:UA participants. “It wasn't just about restoring spaces, but about restoring people,” Chilei adds. “In this tense time, they come to a place where they can reset and feel revived through volunteering, community, cultural programmes, and contributing to the country's development and future transformation. This is because each space is an investment in the future, encouraging them to return home, eager to do more.”The space the visitors to Odesa helped revive is now comfortable and accessible. Today, it hosts clubs and gatherings for young people, and its once unopenable windows and peeling walls are now a thing of the past.Taking Ukrainian business to a global level In 2017, Serhiy Shtefan was creating furniture when entrepreneur friends proposed jointly founding a furniture factory – they saw there was a gap in the market for businesses handling complex furniture projects.Initially, Bassa factory had four employees — Shtefan, his partner, and two installers. Today, seven-and-a-half years later, the company has five co-founders and over a hundred employees. Bassa specializes in manufacturing custom-made premium office furniture, primarily collaborating with design studios.“For the first three years, we worked non-stop,” Shtefan says. “Now we have a large design department that allows us to provide a full range of services. To make it comfortable and interesting for the customer to work with one company, we cover almost all their needs. This way, our dependence on contractors is minimal.”Over the past six years, Bassa hasn’t missed a single order deadline, which is rather an exception in the furniture industry. The factory implements projects of various scales: from furniture for a 40 square metres wheeled house to complex solutions for 700 square metres premises.This is how the Ukrainian entrepreneurs realized they were ready to work for export. Bassa has already completed projects for two apartments in Dubai and collaborated with customers in the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Georgia, and the Netherlands. To develop alongside the industry and share gained experience, Bassa has been cooperating with the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Makers for five years, supported by UNDP and Switzerland.“This is a great opportunity to exchange experiences with our colleagues,” Shtefan says. “The events where we meet and communicate allow us to reboot our minds, hear colleagues' experiences, and from this – draw conclusions and improve.”Bassa is also a partner of the association in the Furniture Maker School project, aimed at solving the industry's main problem – a lack of qualified personnel. The programme allows the factory and colleagues to train and attract new staff.“Our main asset is a strong team, without which nothing would have been possible,” Shtefan explains. “I believe in our cause and hope that soon the war will end, and we'll be able to fly abroad almost weekly, open showrooms in Dubai and Europe, and maybe even open another furniture factory outside Ukraine.”, filtered_html
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Story
06 January 2025
From War to a Fresh Start: How one-time grants help people rebuild lives and businesses
These grants enabled them to not only set up their own businesses or undergo vocational training but also create employment for other people who were forced to flee their homes.For many, the name Mariupol evokes haunting images of destruction and admiration for the resilience of its people. For Tetiana, it is the home she was forced to leave when the full-scale Russian invasion turned her life upside down. Now, nearly three years later and a thousand kilometers away, Tetiana is bringing a piece of Mariupol’s heart to western Ukraine.After the start of the full-scale war, Tetiana fled Mariupol with her young daughter, first to Dnipro and eventually to Ivano-Frankivsk. She left behind her older parents, her career as the head of a bank branch, and the comforting familiarity of her life in the once vibrant city by the Azov Sea. But Tetiana carried something with her—the spirit of the city which now lives on in “Dusha” (The Soul), a cozy café she opened in Ivano-Frankivsk with grant support from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. The café’s walls are adorned with symbols of Mariupol, and its motto, “A part of the soul in every coffee cup,” invites guests to experience the warmth and hospitality of her hometown. The café quickly became a success, and Tetiana’s vision grew. She opened a second location and hired two employees, including another displaced woman from the Odesa region. Driven to improve her craft, Tetiana is currently taking a culinary course in France, ensuring that her cafés continue to thrive. She credits her business not only with providing financial stability, but also with helping her to find her place in her new community.“We offer coffee, desserts, and sandwiches, but also heartfelt conversations to our customers, and this job also helped me to feel a part of my new community. I like to put my soul into everything I do, and people feel it,” Tetiana said.From displacement to entrepreneurshipIn 2022-2023, UNHCR provided 34 business grants and 22 vocational training grants to support internally displaced people in Ukraine to rebuild their lives, achieve financial stability and become self-reliant. The programme was implemented in four western regions of Ukraine, including Zakarpattia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Rivne. Of the 56 people who received this assistance, as of end 2024, 38 of them have businesses that remain operational, a survey indicates. Moreover, these ventures have helped to create employment for an additional 28 people, many of whom were also displaced.One of them is the beauty studio “Petite Rêve” (Little dream) that was opened by Olha who fled to Ivano-Frankivsk from the occupied city of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia region. She currently employs seven women, including some who were internally displaced like herself. With the grant from UNHCR, Olha expanded her entrepreneurial initiative from a modest manicure service to a full-scale beauty studio offering hairdressing, brow artistry, and more. She also gives back to her community by training local and displaced women in manicure techniques, free of charge. “The UNHCR business grant gave me a boost. Of course, I had to invest my own money, but with the grant money, I covered about 70 per cent of what I needed to start my own business. I probably would not have dared to do something so big, so large-scale, if it was not for this grant. Now, I am also able to teach a basic course to other women to help them master their skills. I invest as much as I can, and I really want them to succeed,” Olha shared.Helping people return and remainFor another business grant recipient, Olena, the journey to her own thriving business took her from fleeing Zaporizhzhia, staying six months in Italy as a refugee, returning to Ukraine and moving to Ivano-Frankivsk. Having faced so many challenges, she decided to finally go after her dream – to set up a sports club called “Pride”. UNHCR’s grant enabled Olena to expand her business and now the club offers classes in Muay Thai boxing, gymnastics, karate, pilates, and stretching for children and adults.“I am a choreographer myself, and my husband is a Muay Thai boxing coach. In Italy, we realized that we will not be able to find a job in our sectors, and I felt that this life is not for me. We decided to return and start building something by ourselves. Our club is not just about fitness, but also about creating connections between displaced and local people,” Olena noted. , filtered_html
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Story
18 December 2024
Women in Ukraine persevere amid blackouts after attacks on power infrastructure
Fishchuk runs a small bakery and café in Ivano-Frankivsk, a city in western Ukraine, where she employs women who have been displaced by Russia’s full-scale invasion. But ongoing attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure have made it increasingly challenging for Fishchuk to keep her business operational and her employees paid.“Blackouts also create moral pressure,” she said, describing how her generators are not capable of running the bakery’s ovens during extended power outages—and how she therefore has difficulty paying her staff, who rely on their work for their basic living needs.“Every winter is a matter of survival for the business and the employees you hire,” said Fishchuk, who also heads the Road of Taste of Prykarpattia, a network of local restaurants and food producers. Since the full-scale war began in 2022, Russian forces have repeatedly attacked Ukrainian power plants and other energy infrastructure.President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 29 November 2024 that there had been at least 1,120 attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure since 2022. This year, nine waves of attacks in just more than five months—from 22 March to 31 August 2024—damaged or destroyed power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, according to a report by the UN Human Rights Office.The attacks on power infrastructure impact all Ukrainians, especially as the winter arrives—when cold weather and shorter daylight hours mean that demand for electricity increases by 20 to 25 per cent. These attacks have specific consequences for women and girls.“Power outages affect the ability of women to work and support their families,” said Liliia Kislitsyna, President of SMARTA, a women’s rights group based in the Donetsk Region, on the frontlines of the war.Kislitsyna, who also works as a coordinator for Coalition1325, a network of organizations in Donetsk seeking to protect women in the war, also noted that many displaced women work for small businesses that are forced to close or restrict their working hours due to blackouts. “The further one goes into remote towns and villages, the worse the electricity situation becomes,” she said. “As a result, women often work fewer hours and do not receive full wages.”Even when businesses have generators, the costs of running them can be prohibitive, as noted by Sofia Burtak, president of the Rural Women Business Network, an organization that provides aid to women farmers and women-owned agricultural businesses. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014, the network has also supported internally displaced women and helped women-owned businesses develop strategies for dealing with power cuts.“Blackouts significantly increase production costs,” she said. “The cost of one kilowatt of energy produced by a generator is 20 Ukrainian hryvnia higher than the cost of one kilowatt from the central grid. Even with an alternative power source, the impact on costs, pricing, and production is substantial.” In a 2024 survey of 800 women-owned rural businesses, Burtak said that the Rural Women Business Network found only 35 per cent of respondents said they had backup power sources capable of maintaining their operations.“As a result, the risk of power loss translates into an income loss for the entire family,” she said.UN Women works closely with women's rights organizations in Ukraine, including SMARTA and the Rural Women Business Network. With the support of the United Nations Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund, UN Women has been able to provide over USD 20 million in grants to 54 women-led organizations since the start of the large-scale invasion by the Russian Federation in February 2022, such as institutional grants to organizations in need, including for items such as generators.The power cuts are also felt by women who work within the home. Electricity cuts have a major impact on food preparation and storage, and women—who already shoulder disproportionate care burdens—are forced to spend more time on domestic tasks and are therefore less likely to participate in the labour force.A lack of electricity “affects basic needs, such as cooking food and going in and out of the apartment, especially when you live on the upper floors of a high-rise building. Having to climb up and down several times a day is a real challenge,” said Nataliia Chermoshentseva, a gender expert and activist who coordinates volunteer efforts with the Dignity organization, which works to help communities formerly occupied by Russian forces. She described how many tasks disproportionately done by women—such as cooking, purchasing supplies and groceries, and cleaning—are dependent on electricity. Schools operate fully remote due to the war in many places around the country, and children cannot attend classes without power and internet.“Ukraine ranks among the top countries in digitalization, and we have many electronic services, including those related to social welfare, work, and education,” Chermoshentseva said. “Many of our survival strategies — such as receiving alarm notifications through mobile apps, deciding when to move to shelters, monitoring the situation, etcetera — depend directly on internet access.”“When we talk about the various impacts of the war, there is a specific gender group— women—who are affected much more,” Chermoshentseva said. “Power outages are not a gender-neutral problem.”
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03 December 2024
“Cash support came as a lifeline in the hardest of times”
Every day brings fear and uncertainty to the people of Ukraine, especially those residing in cities, where attacks have intensified. For the residents of Sumy, in north-eastern Ukraine, this reality is all too familiar. The region continues to endure frequent strikes, causing significant destruction, loss of life and injuries. In this context, humanitarian needs have exacerbated, leaving communities in urgent need of protection and essential services.November 17 was an uneventful Sunday, until a strike hit a densely populated residential area in the city. People were killed and injured, also many homes suffered extensive damage, and forced families to leave their apartments.
"The strike came so fast, with such a roar and bang," says Lyudmyla, a retired woman living alone in an apartment in one of the affected residential buildings. "I jumped out of my bed. I grabbed my documents and ran to a safe place. I’ve never been so scared in my entire life."
The explosion severely damaged Lyudmyla’s apartment. The blast wave bent her front door, and her balcony was partially destroyed.
"I felt cold air coming into my apartment through the damaged door. I’m just grateful the balcony glass didn’t shatter on me," she says. Lyudmyla believes her cat saved her life. "He went out to the balcony just before the blast, and the open door might have absorbed some of the impact."Living alone on a small pension allowance, she felt overwhelmed by the challenge of repairing her damaged apartment and staying warm as winter temperatures began to drop—all while having to buy medicines, hygiene items and food.
Immediate humanitarian response after the attack
In the wake of the attack, humanitarian organizations quickly mobilized to support the affected people. They provided food and water, immediate temporary window insulation, and psychological and legal assistance, helping residents like Lyudmyla navigate the immediate aftermath.
To help those affected cope with the hardships following the attack, several humanitarian organizations began registering the affected people for multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA). The humanitarian response was meant to support people who had lost their apartments and meet their basic needs such as food, medicines, clothing and other necessities. Eligible families received financial support amounting to 10,800 UAH (around US$250) per person over three months to cover essential expenses during this challenging time.
When Lyudmyla learned about the programme from her neighbours, she instantly reached out to the humanitarians. She was among the first to apply for emergency assistance. Aid workers registered vulnerable people like Lyudmyla, including people with disabilities, older people and others facing severe hardship. In Sumy City, three NGOs registered over 1000 applications after the attack that damaged Lyudmyla’s apartment.
“Our specialists tirelessly provided consultations on emergency aid,” says Olha Koreneva, Regional Program Coordinator at Right to Protection NGO. “Many were too shaken to seek help right away, but we made sure support was available when they were ready.”
Millions of war-affected people have received multi-purpose cash support in Ukraine since 2022Across Ukraine, over 100 humanitarian organizations are working to provide war-affected people with multi-purpose cash assistance. Since the war escalated in 2022, over 10.5 million people have been supported with a total amount of US$2.1 billion. Between 2022 and 2024, Ukraine's humanitarian response has heavily relied on MPCA to support those affected by the war. At the onset of the escalation of the war, multi-purpose cash was the most preferred and efficient modality of aid. In 2022 alone, nearly 6 million people were supported with MPSA assistance and over 4 million people in 2023, which constituted almost 40 per cent of the total humanitarian assistance at the time. An inter-agency Cash Working Group (CWG) in Ukraine has been instrumental in coordinating these efforts and developing guidelines and standard operating procedures to harmonize MPCA delivery across various regions, avoiding duplication and ensuring that the most vulnerable people receive aid. Today, MPCA remains a vital component of Ukraine's humanitarian response, providing flexible support that enables recipients to address their diverse needs amid the crisis.Meanwhile, Lyudmyla is preparing to return home: “During the first several days, I couldn’t bring myself to go back—it was too painful to face the destruction. I stayed with friends,” Lyudmyla shares. “But the support I’ve received from aid organizations and friends gives me hope to restore a sense of normalcy and eventually return home.”
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"The strike came so fast, with such a roar and bang," says Lyudmyla, a retired woman living alone in an apartment in one of the affected residential buildings. "I jumped out of my bed. I grabbed my documents and ran to a safe place. I’ve never been so scared in my entire life."
The explosion severely damaged Lyudmyla’s apartment. The blast wave bent her front door, and her balcony was partially destroyed.
"I felt cold air coming into my apartment through the damaged door. I’m just grateful the balcony glass didn’t shatter on me," she says. Lyudmyla believes her cat saved her life. "He went out to the balcony just before the blast, and the open door might have absorbed some of the impact."Living alone on a small pension allowance, she felt overwhelmed by the challenge of repairing her damaged apartment and staying warm as winter temperatures began to drop—all while having to buy medicines, hygiene items and food.
Immediate humanitarian response after the attack
In the wake of the attack, humanitarian organizations quickly mobilized to support the affected people. They provided food and water, immediate temporary window insulation, and psychological and legal assistance, helping residents like Lyudmyla navigate the immediate aftermath.
To help those affected cope with the hardships following the attack, several humanitarian organizations began registering the affected people for multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA). The humanitarian response was meant to support people who had lost their apartments and meet their basic needs such as food, medicines, clothing and other necessities. Eligible families received financial support amounting to 10,800 UAH (around US$250) per person over three months to cover essential expenses during this challenging time.
When Lyudmyla learned about the programme from her neighbours, she instantly reached out to the humanitarians. She was among the first to apply for emergency assistance. Aid workers registered vulnerable people like Lyudmyla, including people with disabilities, older people and others facing severe hardship. In Sumy City, three NGOs registered over 1000 applications after the attack that damaged Lyudmyla’s apartment.
“Our specialists tirelessly provided consultations on emergency aid,” says Olha Koreneva, Regional Program Coordinator at Right to Protection NGO. “Many were too shaken to seek help right away, but we made sure support was available when they were ready.”
Millions of war-affected people have received multi-purpose cash support in Ukraine since 2022Across Ukraine, over 100 humanitarian organizations are working to provide war-affected people with multi-purpose cash assistance. Since the war escalated in 2022, over 10.5 million people have been supported with a total amount of US$2.1 billion. Between 2022 and 2024, Ukraine's humanitarian response has heavily relied on MPCA to support those affected by the war. At the onset of the escalation of the war, multi-purpose cash was the most preferred and efficient modality of aid. In 2022 alone, nearly 6 million people were supported with MPSA assistance and over 4 million people in 2023, which constituted almost 40 per cent of the total humanitarian assistance at the time. An inter-agency Cash Working Group (CWG) in Ukraine has been instrumental in coordinating these efforts and developing guidelines and standard operating procedures to harmonize MPCA delivery across various regions, avoiding duplication and ensuring that the most vulnerable people receive aid. Today, MPCA remains a vital component of Ukraine's humanitarian response, providing flexible support that enables recipients to address their diverse needs amid the crisis.Meanwhile, Lyudmyla is preparing to return home: “During the first several days, I couldn’t bring myself to go back—it was too painful to face the destruction. I stayed with friends,” Lyudmyla shares. “But the support I’ve received from aid organizations and friends gives me hope to restore a sense of normalcy and eventually return home.”
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04 July 2024
Explore the interactive dashboard on the UN's recovery programmes in Ukraine
Explore our UN Ukraine Recovery Dashboard!This interactive dashboard provides detailed insights into our recovery programmes and funding.
The UN provides crucial support to people, communities, and institutions to strengthen systems and foster resilience, essential for the country's recovery from the devastation caused by the war. This includes focusing on critical areas such as infrastructure reconstruction, mine action, housing, livelihoods, energy, health, education, social protection, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.
Transparency and accountability are fundamental to our approach. We are dedicated to making data accessible to all stakeholders through this interactive tool. [powerbi:https://data.uninfo.org/Home/_UkraineUNCT] , filtered_html
The UN provides crucial support to people, communities, and institutions to strengthen systems and foster resilience, essential for the country's recovery from the devastation caused by the war. This includes focusing on critical areas such as infrastructure reconstruction, mine action, housing, livelihoods, energy, health, education, social protection, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.
Transparency and accountability are fundamental to our approach. We are dedicated to making data accessible to all stakeholders through this interactive tool. [powerbi:https://data.uninfo.org/Home/_UkraineUNCT] , filtered_html
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Press Release
23 February 2025
Statement by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, on the third-year mark of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
However, this nightmare for Ukrainians didn’t begin three years ago, but in 2014 when the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine were violated. The illegal annexation by the Russian Federation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and protracted hostilities in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk caused the first wave of widespread suffering and displacement. For eleven years, Ukrainian citizens have been killed and injured and have lost their homes and livelihoods to the war. Numerous children born since 2014 have never experienced peace in their home country.For the past six months as UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, I’ve travelled to dozens of cities and villages along the frontline and all over Ukraine. People have spoken to me in deeply moving ways of their pain and desperation. I remember vividly meeting last month in Kharkiv region a group of mostly elderly people exiting a bus supported by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund that had brought them from their remote villages near the frontline to pick up some essential items and do some banking. They shared the saddest memories of loved ones that are no longer and lost or destroyed homes. And a woman I met last month together with our Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher in her Kharkiv apartment that was badly damaged because of a missile strike was still so traumatized months after it happened that she could hardly speak about the experience she went through being in the apartment at the time. At least 12,605 civilians were killed in three years, and more than 29,178 were injured. With missiles and drones reaching Western borders, nowhere in Ukraine is safe. Millions of people who fled the country or were displaced internally are unable to return as their native cities and villages have been destroyed, and the surrounding land is densely strewn with mines and other explosive devices.The war has been a heavy blow to the Ukrainian economy. Many Ukrainian enterprises that gave people jobs stopped or were destroyed. The brutal Russian air strikes have severely damaged the national energy system, as well as hundreds of educational and healthcare institutions. A humanitarian crisis is devastating and the “hidden crisis” - the mental health crisis - will resonate for generations.Yet, I’ve seen more to this gruesome picture – in the depths of this unimaginable darkness there’s hope and strength. There are hundreds of stories of pain and grief, but a thousand more of determined work to rebuild. Ukrainian people are not surrendering to despair, they rebuild, they invent, they support each other. Despite their unfathomable grief, the group of older people I mentioned earlier still managed to smile and express joy at the prospect of a better future!I’ve seen schoolchildren eager to learn in underground shelters, veterans injured by the war training for humanitarian demining, displaced people starting sustainable businesses from scratch. I’ve seen women leaders advocating for their communities, youth determined to be part of rebuilding and recovery, and vulnerable communities including Roma and persons with disabilities speaking up for the future and against injustice.We must continue supporting Ukraine. In line with the UN Charter and General Assembly resolutions, the United Nations remains fully committed to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. We call on member states, organizations, and individuals to not forget Ukraine. Ukraine’s voice must be heard clearly, and this unbearable war must end in a just and lasting peace. Achieving this in Ukraine would send a powerful signal for strengthening international peace and security. , filtered_html
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Press Release
21 February 2025
Civilian Harm and Human Rights Abuses Persist in Ukraine as War Enters Fourth Year
“Three years of full-scale conflict in Ukraine have wrought persistent and escalating human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Danielle Bell, Chief of HRMMU. “As the civilian toll grows heavier, the human rights of all those affected must remain at the forefront of any negotiations for sustainable peace.”More than 12,654 civilian men, women, girls, and boys have been killed, and over 29,392 injured since 24 February 2022, as verified by HRMMU. Eighty-four per cent of the casualties have occurred in territory controlled by the government of Ukraine, and 16 per cent in territory occupied by the Russian Federation.Civilian casualties rose by 30 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023 as hostilities again intensified on the frontline, and the Russian Federation increased its use of aerial bombs, short-range drones, long-range missiles and loitering munitions. Landmines and explosive remnants of war now contaminate an estimated 139,000 square kilometers in Ukraine, posing serious risks to civilians now and in the future.Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has come under 14 large-scale, coordinated attacks since last March alone, creating a serious electricity deficit, and intensifying the difficulties in providing education, healthcare, heating supply, and water distribution. In 2024, at least 306 attacks damaged or destroyed medical facilities – a threefold increase from 2023 – while at least 576 attacks affected educational facilities, nearly double the previous year.“Civilians face constant and compounding harm as the conflict continues,” said Ms. Bell. “The large-scale use of explosive weapons in populated areas has not only killed and injured civilians across Ukraine, but it has also displaced millions who have fled violence and disrupted basic services essential to civilian life and well-being.”HRMMU continues to document serious violations against military personnel, including executions, torture, sexual violence, and other inhumane and degrading acts. Since August 2024, HRMMU has recorded an alarming spike in reported executions of captured Ukrainian soldiers by Russian armed forces, involving credible allegations of 81 Ukrainian soldiers executed during that period. HRMMU documented one instance during this same reporting period of a member of the Ukrainian armed forces executing a Russian soldier.Since 2022, Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) have been subjected to widespread and systematic acts of torture, including sexual violence. Ninety-five per cent of released Ukrainian POWs interviewed by HRMMU have provided accounts of torture or ill-treatment during interrogation and throughout their time in Russian captivity. Approximately half of the Russian POWs interviewed by HRMMU have also described acts of torture or ill-treatment, mostly during the initial stages of captivity before reaching places of internment.At least 170 civilians have been executed in areas controlled by Russian authorities, including in places of detention. Further, around three-quarters of released civilian detainees interviewed by HRMMU have recounted acts of torture and ill-treatment. In areas under occupation by Russian authorities, violations of international law have touched nearly all aspects of civilian life. Residents have been forced to obtain Russian citizenship, as Russian governance and systems have been imposed. Civilians seeking access to healthcare, property, jobs, and social security are increasingly required to provide Russian passports. Children in particular have been subjected to militarized and patriotic education aimed at instilling loyalty to the Russian Federation, despite the obligations of the Russian Federation as an occupying power., filtered_html
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Press Release
21 February 2025
Three Years On: From crisis to prospective recovery
A war-driven economic crisis has severely impacted healthcare funding, putting access to HIV services at risk. With HIV services entirely dependent on external aid and humanitarian support that is becoming increasingly unstable, the uncertainty of the continuity of U.S. funding has further worsened an already dire situation in Ukraine. In January, the new U.S. Administration froze all foreign assistance for a 90-day period. A waiver to allow life-saving services was subsequently issued allowing support for some HIV services. The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) contributed US$15.6 million to the HIV response in Ukraine during 2023 and 2024. This includes $11 million for antiretroviral therapy and $2 million for various types of rapid test kits, while the rest was used for laboratory expenses. UNAIDS and partners estimate that 92,840 Ukrainian people could see their HIV treatment disrupted if U.S. funding was to be entirely cut – that is 78% of all people living with HIV on treatment. In addition, stocks of life-saving treatment and HIV prevention drugs are low, with people only getting three versus six months of drug supply. The threat of a potential financial void left by the U.S. is forcing Ukraine’s health system to search for alternative sources of funding. From Global Fund reprogramming to private sector donations to bulk medicine offers from pharmaceutical companies. Many options are being explored to patch together a lifeline. However, even collectively these efforts may not be enough to fill the PEPFAR gap should the U.S. permanently withdraw its support. There are hopeful signs of recovery like HIV testing increased 23% last year compared to 2023 but obtaining comprehensive epidemiological and clinical data remains difficult. This inevitably affects the accuracy of overall assessments due to the ongoing conflict, loss of administrative control in certain regions, missing persons, and mass displacement. Despite ongoing challenges, Ukraine remains committed to the HIV response, supported by a strong coalition of government, civil society, international organizations, and donors. The UNAIDS Secretariat, Co-sponsors, UN agencies, and member states continue working together to ensure essential services for women, people living with HIV, and key populations, reinforcing the response's sustainability even in the face of adversity. Read full Situation Report on Ukraine, filtered_html
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Press Release
19 February 2025
UNHCR: After three years of war, Ukrainians need peace and aid
In the last six months alone, more than 200,000 people have fled their homes in eastern Ukraine as attacks increased. As human suffering continues, providing immediate life-saving assistance to those most affected as well as opportunities to recover is more needed than ever.UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, estimates that 10.6 million Ukrainians are displaced – almost a quarter of its pre-war population. Inside Ukraine, 3.7 million have been uprooted, while 6.9 million refugees continue to receive protection abroad. More than 2 million homes across Ukraine – 10 per cent of the housing stock – have been damaged or destroyed. Repeated attacks on energy infrastructure continue to plunge people into cold and darkness, while further disrupting strained local services. The newly displaced are increasingly vulnerable – older people and those living with disabilities – who often face additional challenges in accessing services they need the most. Many of the most vulnerable continue to find safety in collective sites – now for a third year. The impact on mental health has also been profound amid the incessant threat of missiles and drones, long periods of family separation, and cumulative trauma. Children are particularly vulnerable, with 1.5 million at risk of long-term mental health consequences. Inside Ukraine, 12.7 million people – one third of the current population – need humanitarian assistance.It is estimated that up to one-third of Ukraine's territory has been exposed to contamination by landmines and ordnance. The impact of the war on the economy is extensive – agricultural and industrial hubs in the east have been devastated, and an estimated 30 per cent of pre-war jobs lost. Addressing these challenges – cited by refugees as impediments to return – must be a collective priority.Over the last three years, UNHCR has brought life-saving assistance to millions affected. Working hand-in-hand with the Government of Ukraine, sister agencies and local partners, UNHCR continues to respond to new attacks and fresh displacement, providing – amongst other things – a warm place to sleep in the immediate aftermath, psychological first aid and cash for basic necessities. With other UN humanitarians, UNHCR has delivered aid to 800,000 people living in hard-to-reach frontline communities.UNHCR also remains a committed partner in Ukraine’s recovery efforts. Support – ranging from shelter repairs to legal assistance – provides a crucial bridge to help people recover, rebuild and access eventual government services. Funding has long been a challenge. Now, it is more uncertain than ever. And the victims will, once again, be the displaced and war-affected families at risk of losing life-saving aid when they need it most. The support of a range of donors is crucial to ensure that UNHCR can continue providing emergency aid, shelter and safety to those in need.For the last three years, Ukraine’s neighbours have shown compassion and commitment by including refugees in their national systems. Refugees have worked hard to rebuild their lives in their new communities. While 60 per cent of Ukrainians abroad tell us they plan to return home one day, only 5 per cent plan to do so soon – as they await improved security, housing and economic opportunities – many of them originating from occupied areas. International support for refugees and their hosts is crucial to sustain hope. UNHCR and its partners will continue working to make sure that effective and sustainable humanitarian aid reaches those most in need.Now is not the time to give up on the people of Ukraine.For more information, please contact:In Kyiv: Elisabeth Arnsdorf Haslund | +380 95 239 0072 | haslund@unhcr.org In Geneva: Matthew William Saltmarsh | +41 79 967 99 36 | saltmars@unhcr.org , filtered_html
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Press Release
19 February 2025
Ukrainian brands go global: UNDP helps launch E-export initiative
Kyiv, Ukraine, 14 February 2025 — National postal operator Ukrposhta has launched the E-Export Intensive series of seminars, bringing together the owners of more than 200 micro, small, and medium-sized businesses to learn about selling online, internationally.E-Export Intensive is a new educational initiative supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Japan. It is part of UNDP’s “Resilience Business Platform. Academy” which supports Ukrainian entrepreneurs in overcoming modern challenges.The E-Export Intensive training provided participants with comprehensive insights into conducting international e-commerce, covering key aspects of establishing and scaling an online business. The event programme features success stories of Ukrainian exporters and practical tools for selling on leading global platforms, including Etsy, Shopify, and eBay.Opening the event, Nadia Bihun, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine said the project proves Ukrainian small businesses and manufacturers are relevant to the global market. “On one hand, we’re facing a full-scale invasion and war, bringing immense suffering,” Bihun said. “But on the other, this situation opens new opportunities for promoting Ukraine as a brand and supporting its producers.”Christophoros Politis, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine said the initiative was an example of turning strategy into action. “We’ve talked about strengthening and supporting the MSME Strategy for 2027,” Politis said. “This is where UNDP is acting to support the E-Export Intensive initiative – enhancing entrepreneurial support, building capacity, and providing training for small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up a significant portion of Ukraine’s economy.”Yulia Pavlenko, Director of the International Operations Department of Ukrposhta added, “We’re excited to discuss e-commerce, exploring opportunities for Ukrainian production and global sales, with a special focus on the Japanese market as well. We believe in the power of Ukrainian businesses and their connection with the world.”BackgroundThe E-Export Intensive series of seminars was organized by UNDP in Ukraine in cooperation with Ukrposhta as part of the “Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine” project, which is implemented with the support of the Government of Japan.Media InquiriesYuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Communications Team Leader, yuliia.samus@undp.org , filtered_html
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