Humanitarian Community Launches 2025–2026 Winter Response Plan
17 July 2025
The United Nations and humanitarian partners today launched the 2025–2026 Winter Response Plan.
PRESS RELEASE
17 July 2025, Ukraine – As Ukraine braces for another harsh winter amid escalating hostilities and continued strikes on critical infrastructure, the United Nations and humanitarian partners today launched the 2025–2026 Winter Response Plan. The plan requires US$277.7 million to deliver multisectoral, life-saving assistance and services to 1.7 million of the most vulnerable people exposed to extreme cold between October 2025 and March 2026.
Years of war have left millions with unreliable heating, damaged homes, and limited means to pay rising utility costs. The cold season brings heightened risks—especially for people near the front line, displaced people living in collective sites, older persons, persons with disabilities, vulnerable families with children, and communities with severely damaged infrastructure.
“As temperatures drop, millions across Ukraine will struggle to keep warm—especially in communities near the front line and among vulnerable displaced people. This plan helps us reach those most in need of winter assistance within the framework of our reprioritized Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan,” said Matthias Schmale, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine.
Humanitarian organizations will help insulate and repair damaged homes, provide heaters, fuel, blankets, and warm clothing, prepare shelters for extreme cold, deliver cash for heating and utilities, and coordinate services in high-risk areas.
Efforts will be closely coordinated with winterization plans developed by other humanitarian actors and the Government to avoid duplication and ensure joint prioritization based on vulnerability.
The plan includes a robust monitoring and reporting framework and applies a protection lens to ensure the response can adapt flexibly as needs evolve. Additional data—including district heating status, winter needs in collective sites, and local authority reports—will guide real-time planning and prioritization.
“Every winter puts additional strain on people already worn down by years of war. Timely funding and close cooperation with our partners are essential to reach those most in need before the worst of the cold sets in,” Schmale added.
The Winter Response Plan builds on the reprioritized 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, incorporating lessons learned and adapting to the evolving context. Timely donor support is critical to enable early procurement and pre-positioning of supplies, ensuring swift and efficient delivery.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Adedeji ADEMIGBUJI, Public Information Officer
Email: adedeji.ademigbuji@un.org | Phone: +380 50 341 0798
Viktoriia ANDRIIEVSKA, Public Information Officer
Email: viktoriia.andriievska@un.org | Phone: +380 50 419 6323