The corridors are quiet, but invisible work is in full swing. We pull on gowns, masks and shoe covers, and head to the laboratory, where the equipment hums softly. "This little worker of ours is sleeping now," Natalia Hryhorivna, head of the laboratory, jokes, tapping the panel of the new hematology analyzer. The hospital received it through a joint project by UNOPS and the Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk. Once switched on, the analyzer slips back into the lab's daily rhythm: complete blood count, leukocyte formula, ESR, hematocrit - the tests ordered for dozens of patients every day. "Before, we did everything on one analyzer, and we had queues," Natalia Hryhorivna explains. "Now that we have a second one, we can split the flow: one for inpatients, one for outpatients." For the lab’s three technicians, this means simpler planning and faster service. On busy days, during medical checkups for example, they process up to fifty tests. Domanivka hospital serves three communities in the Mykolaiv region: Domanivska, Prybuzka, and Mostivska. Together, this is about 23,000 people, plus more than 4,000 internally displaced persons who settled here after 2022. There is no rail connection here, and when bus routes drop off, for example in spring when high water cuts off roads, "going to Mykolaiv for tests" sounds like a luxury. The local hospital is not a "last resort" option, but the only realistic option. "People don’t need to go anywhere else. A family doctor sends an electronic referral, we do the tests and enter the results into the system," Natalia Hryhorivna says. In the way she says "we," I hear both professional pride and the tired resilience of a team working with little room to spare. 
The hospital grounds are easy to get lost in: buildings and utility blocks are spread across five hectares. Deputy directors proudly show us pellet-fired boiler rooms, solar panels, generators – all the pieces that help keep the hospital running through frequent power outages.  On the way to the surgical department, we pass by a detached building with an older stationary X-ray unit. It sits about a hundred metres away from the surgical wing, across uneven paths.Inside the surgical department, there is something new: a mobile X-ray unit, also delivered by UNOPS with financial support from Novo Nordisk.
  The senior nurse, Larysa Vasylivna, puts it simply: “It has made our work easier. Now we can do X-rays right in the operating room. We don’t have to move the patient anywhere.” Before, patients had to be transferred between this and the building with the stationary X-ray machine on stretchers or gurneys. Heavier patients – “150 kilos and more,” she recalls – sometimes required six people to carry them. Who carried them? Nurses. Doctors. Whoever was available. Surgeon Yevhen Mykhailovych adds: “This mobile unit means we don’t have to disturb the patient during imaging. For people with fractures, that’s a huge relief.” Anyone who has experienced such pain will understand the difference this makes. For the surgical team, having mobile imaging in the operating theatre is immediately transformative: an image taken during the procedure shows what the eye cannot – deep structures, the alignment of bones, the accuracy of fixation, and allows the team to adjust on the spot. Here, the war is discussed without grand words, simply as extra pressure on a system that was already fragile. With displacement, there are more patients. Not everyone has the paperwork to register with a family doctor. But how do you turn away someone who needs help now?“I haven’t refused a single person in my entire practice,” Yevhen Mykhailovych says.That, perhaps, is the core of the Domanivka hospital story: despite ageing buildings, difficult roads and a shortage of staff, there are practical solutions that bring care closer to people. When the lab equipment runs reliably, and a surgeon wheels a mobile X-ray unit into place before an operation, it is a quiet, everyday win against circumstances, and for patients who often have nowhere else to turn.About the project:This joint project, implemented by UNOPS with financial support from the Government of Denmark and Novo Nordisk, aims to strengthen healthcare facilities in the Mykolaiv region and help them expand the range of medical services. The project consists of two components: with financial support from the Government of Denmark, UNOPS is carrying out repair work in five hospitals in Mykolaiv, and with funding from Novo Nordisk, UNOPS is procuring and delivering priority medical equipment to more than 15 healthcare facilities around the region.

The United Nations officials are warning that the war continues to bring suffering, death, and continuous disruption into the lives of people living in Ukraine.“It has been over four years since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” said Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo at the UN Security Council meeting on 23 March 2026. “Nearly 1,500 days of death, destruction, and despair.” From a Harsh Winter into Renewed Strikes on Critical InfrastructureMillions of Ukrainians have just come through months of cold weather, often with limited electricity and heating due to repeated strikes on energy systems. Now that winter is over, attacks are rising again instead of easing.Russia is launching more than 5,000 drone strikes each month, along with frequent missile attacks.Key infrastructure continues to be hit, including energy networks that people rely on to recover after winter, as well as homes, schools, hospitals, and transport systems.“Military activity near Ukraine's nuclear sites, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, continues with potentially devastating consequences,” continues DiCarlo, mentioning successful repairs of the station's energy supply.Humanitarian support continuesSince 19 March alone, at least 25 civilians have reportedly been killed and more than 130 injured, including children, particularly in Donetsk, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.“The damage builds - quietly but relentlessly - alongside the visible destruction,” said Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher.Humanitarian workers continue to provide food, cash assistance, medical care, shelter, and protection to people along the front line and after strikes, with local organizations being the backbone of this effort. “Over a cruel, cold winter, around 100 humanitarian organizations supported more than 1.6 million people,” explained Tom Fletcher. 

Located more than 30 kilometres from the district centre of Podilsk, the village often endured dangerously long wait times for the State Emergency Service (SES) due to the distance and poor road conditions.To bridge this gap, the Kuyalnyk Village Territorial Community established a local volunteer fire brigade in 2025, slashing emergency response times from 40 minutes to as little as five.The team was assembled by the local village head, Viktoriia Sukhyna, who also became the brigade’s dispatcher.The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with funding from the Government of Japan, provided the brigade with clothing, footwear, helmets, axes, fire extinguishers and other specialised equipment. This allows the team to operate autonomously and respond quickly to emergencies. UNDP also trained 15 volunteers. From entrepreneur to fire brigade leaderUntil 2020, Sukhyna was an entrepreneur who ran her own shop in the village. Her great-grandparents and parents had lived in Mardarivka, and her children now live there as well. Sukhyna says she saw that the village needed development. Her desire to keep her village alive led her into local government. “I thought being a village head wasn’t really for me,” she laughs. “But I care deeply about this village and love it very much. Of course, running a shop was calmer, but once I started this work, there was no stopping me.”When the opportunity arose a year ago to establish a volunteer fire brigade in Mardarivka with the support of UNDP and the Government of Japan, Sukhyna didn’t just facilitate the creation of the brigade — she joined it herself. “I wanted to lead by example, although I didn’t fully realise what I was signing up for,” Sukhyna says. “At that time, I knew nothing about firefighting. I personally invited people to join the brigade, choosing very responsible people — those you wouldn’t be afraid to go through fire or water with.”First to respond Sofiia Khodiuk, the deputy head of Kuyalnyk Village Territorial Community for Economic Affairs, explains that the need for volunteer fire brigades stems from the remoteness of some of the settlements in the community.“Some settlements are up to 40 kilometres away from the community centre in Podilsk,” Khodiuk says. “Under these conditions, SES units cannot arrive quickly enough at the scene of a fire. Together with the SES, we concluded that volunteer fire brigades could provide the solution — they would be the first to respond.”“If the fire is serious, trained volunteers can begin extinguishing it while professional rescuers are still on their way. Smaller fires can be put out by the local brigade without SES involvement. This helps improve safety in the community.”During wartime, when state emergency services are heavily focused on responding to the consequences of attacks, the role of volunteer teams in remote villages has become critical for protecting lives and property.As part of the implementation of the Community Recovery and Development Plan drawn up with the support of UNDP and the Government of Japan, two volunteer fire brigades have been operating in the Kuyalnyk community since 2025, while a third is currently being formed, with its launch planned for September 2026.According to the deputy head of the council, the volunteers in Mardarivka received not only fully equipped fire kits through UNDP and the Government of Japan, but also training from the State Emergency Service.Excitement, fear and responsibilityOver the past year, the volunteers from Mardarivka have had two official callouts. Sukhyna says the most memorable one was in November when, at 5 a.m., she received a call that a residential house was on fire.“The woman wasn’t home, and her husband heard something bang in the stove but didn’t pay attention,” Sukhyna says. “Their son, who lives nearby, saw that the entire roof was on fire and called us. My team worked so well that I’m incredibly proud of them. Everyone knew what to do. When the fire was extinguished, I could see gratitude in the owners’ eyes. Being a firefighter brings incredible emotions — excitement, fear and a sense of responsibility to the community.”Sukhyna’s responsibilities include liaising between the State Emergency Service and the community, as well as coordinating operations during fires and monitoring whether there is enough water. “The first time we were called out, everyone was scared — stubble was burning and people's gardens were nearby,” Sukhyna says. “But once we turned on the water and started working as we had been trained, things quickly fell into place and we saw immediate results. We realised we could handle it and even told the SES not to come because we knew we could manage. Honestly, it was exhausting, but I'm very proud of us. We worked in unity — we truly felt like a team.”Focus on residentsFor Sukhyna, being both a village head and a firefighter means being ready to respond 24/7. Her family fully supports her. “At first, the residents of Mardarivka reacted indifferently to the fire brigade, saying: ‘Well, it exists, great,’” Sukhyna says.“But when they saw that we actually respond to calls and witnessed our work, their attitude changed. I think we surprised a lot of people.”Khodiuk says that this and other community projects within the Recovery and Development Plan were designed on the basis of a principle she learned during UNDP training: the individual must be at the centre of everything.“You cannot implement projects if they do not benefit people,” Khodiuk says. “You must focus on residents’ needs. When developing the Recovery Plan, we spoke with residents, listened to what they wanted, conducted surveys and questionnaires, and only then planned the activities.”The story of Mardarivka is not only about success in extinguishing fires. It is about creating a new civil protection system that was previously absent from the village. With support from international partners, the community has not only restored a safety function, but has also created a new model of cooperation, where transparency, accountability and women’s leadership ensure the long-term resilience of Odesa region. Since 2023, UNDP, with financial support from the Government of Japan, has been providing comprehensive assistance to Ukrainian communities. During the first phase of the initiative, 10 pilot territorial communities participated. In 2024, the initiative was expanded, with another 20 communities from across Ukraine joining it.Within this support, the 10 pilot communities have already developed strategic planning documents and anti-corruption programmes, individual communication strategies, received training in project management, and strengthened their capacity in strategic communications, media literacy and countering disinformation.UNDP, with funding from Japan, has also supported several community recovery and development projects by procuring essential equipment. Thanks to this support, communities have not only strengthened their institutional capacity but have also successfully secured funding to implement other practical initiatives.

While the war continues to cause human suffering and destruction of homes, schools and hospitals, the latest Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) estimates that Ukraine will need at least $588 billion over the next decade to restore infrastructure and, even more importantly, people’s livelihoods and wellbeing.  The report, released on 23 February 2026 by the Government of Ukraine together with the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations, underlines the increasing damages in housing, energy and transport sectors.  The energy sector, in particular, saw a 33.7% increase in recovery needs due to continuous attacks on the generation and transmission systems. The full extent of energy damage is not yet comprehensively captured in the data, as the report overviews the damage up to the end of December 2025.  “The RDNA once again precisely documents the price tag of infrastructure destruction and sustainable recovery needs,” says Matthias Schmale, the Head of the UN in Ukraine. “But the true cost of war is measured in human lives and livelihoods.”   Where Recovery Begins: Classrooms in VyshhorodIn Vyshhorod, just 20 kilometers north of Kyiv centre, recovery is visible in a restored and reopened lyceum. Once a key direction of the Russian offensive toward the capital, the city continues to rebuild despite ongoing attacks. With renovations by UNOPS supported by the European Union, the school has resumed in-person learning, with a basement shelter where classes continue during air-raid alerts. For 11th-grade student Daryna, returning to school took time after her family evacuated abroad at the start of the war.  “We didn’t know what to do. When it became unsafe, we left. But the school there couldn’t replace my lyceum. As soon as in-person learning resumed, we returned, and I was able to attend my school again.”Now preparing for graduation exams, Daryna studies amid sirens and power outages - a reminder that recovery is not abstract policy, but lived resilience.Matthias Schmale warned that prolonged educational disruption risks limiting opportunities for an entire generation:“Educational interruptions threaten learning outcomes and future opportunities. Investing in schools is not simply about repairing buildings, it is about protecting Ukraine’s people potential and its long-term development.”Supporting recovery and reconstruction of critical and social infrastructure is not only about building a better future at this stage, itis imperative for survival. The coming months are critical: repairs must be completed before the next winter, and water and energy systems must be protected and reinforced to withstand continued attacks.Integrated community recovery combining housing, heating, essential services, and employment will be essential to enable Ukrainians displaced by this brutal war to return and rebuild their lives. People are central to recovery  Beyond the numbers, the war’s impact on people remains immeasurable. RDNA5 estimates that socioeconomic losses have reached US$666.7 billion, driven largely by disruptions to commerce, industry, public services, and livelihoods. What can’t be fully captured is the trauma, loss, and strain on mental well-being, as well as impact on living environment and potential long term health impacts.“Ukraine’s most critical asset is its people,” underlines Matthias Schmale. “Refugee return, veteran reintegration, and women’s labor force participation will shape economic recovery as much as capital flows and rebuilding infrastructure. Recovery must be human-centered and community-based.”Recovery must therefore focus first and foremost on people: helping families return to safe homes, allowing children to learn again in reopened schools, ensuring communities have access to reliable health care, creating decent jobs that support livelihoods, and protecting vulnerable groups so that no one is left behind in the rebuilding process.Seeds of Recovery   Recovery also takes root in Ukraine’s agricultural heartland. In the Kharkiv region, Liubov’s farm once sustained her family and community. Before February 2022, she managed more than 220 cattle, along with pigs and sheep. The invasion devastated her livelihood: livestock was lost, farm buildings destroyed, and dozens of hectares of land rendered unusable.“I lost almost everything. But the land and the faith that I can rise again I will not give to anyone,” she says.Through a joint FAO and World Food Programme initiative supporting mine action and agricultural recovery, Liubov received $12,000 in cash and voucher assistance. She purchased seeds, fertilizers, building materials and pedigree calves to restart production in close proximity to the front line, where it is most needed.“This support was critical and timely. It helped us not to give up.”The RDNA5 estimates agricultural recovery needs at more than $55 billion. But beyond statistics, farms like Liubov’s represent restored livelihoods, rural stability and renewed confidence in the future. A Collective Responsibility  The Ukrainian government has shown remarkable strength and resourcefulness in tackling unprecedented challenges caused by the war. Essential services are continued to be delivered, schools reopen, hospitals operate, and innovation is promoted.Yet, the costs of reconstruction and recovery, as described in the RDNA5, place an immense burden on authorities and the Ukrainian people. While no single actor can meet the scale of this challenge alone, strong partnerships and coordinated action are indispensable. It’s also evident that reconstruction is not only about infrastructure, but also, it’s a strategic investment in people – children, women, veterans, older people, people with disabilities, displaced people.  It is to ensure that students like Daryna can complete their education, that farmers like Liubov can bring in their harvests, and that communities can move from immediate survival toward sustainable development.“A sustainable recovery of Ukraine depends on collaboration among national and local authorities, civil society, international financial institutions, the United Nations, the private sector, development partners, and, importantly, Ukrainian communities themselves,” stresses Matthias Schmale. “Together, we can make a real difference for the Ukrainian people in their pursuit of a better life."