Latest
Press Release
15 March 2024
Ukraine: UN Commission concerned by continuing patterns of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law
Learn more
Press Release
15 March 2024
ALL EFFORTS MUST BE TAKEN TO PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIVES IN UKRAINE
Learn more
Story
14 March 2024
Hot meals and bomb shelters: In Ukraine, wartime school meals offer nourishment and security
Learn more
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:
Press Release
07 March 2024
UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, message for the International Women’s Day
THEY INSPIRE ME
The women of Ukraine, their determination, have truly inspired and encouraged me since the day I arrived in this country. In each and every one of my many travels across Ukraine, whether it is to a war-torn community close to the front line or a town in the West where people fleeing the horrors of Russia’s invasion sought refuge, I see and hear stories of determination, hope and solidarity led by strong Ukrainian women. I am a witness to the fact that women in Ukraine – at all levels – refuse to give up and are relentless in their work to promote a better future for their country. I have been inspired by women in leadership positions, both at the national Government and local level, like the women representatives I met in front-line towns like Kherson, Mylove or Orikhiv, who spare no effort and overcome tremendous challenges to bring some relief to their communities torn apart by the war. It motivates me to see that women are the backbone of the humanitarian response and work non-stop to help their communities under extreme hardship, like the doctor I met in Siversk, in the Donetsk Region. Despite all the risks, she decided to stay there, fearing not the bombs and missiles but the fact that it would be, otherwise, almost impossible for people in her community to access health care. I met so many mothers who had to learn how to support their children who could no longer go to school, at the same time as, with compassion, caring for the sick, the disabled, the elderly and filling the gaps left by a social system massively disrupted by the war.I met in Kramatorsk, Kharkiv and Uzhhorod so many fierce and inspiring women leading organizations and movements advocating for the rights of the people of Ukraine, and striving to ensure no one is left behind, particularly the most vulnerable, including people with disabilities, the Roma or LGBTQIA+ community. And again, they are taking up these massive challenges at a time when they face higher levels of unemployment, a larger and persistent gender pay gap, heightened risk of gender-based violence and obstacles to accessing essential services.Women are as important at the decision-making tables as they are at the frontlines of their communities. For this reason, the UN is committed to continuing our efforts to support them and create platforms at different levels to ensure women have a leading role in Ukraine’s economic and social recovery.
The women of Ukraine, their determination, have truly inspired and encouraged me since the day I arrived in this country. In each and every one of my many travels across Ukraine, whether it is to a war-torn community close to the front line or a town in the West where people fleeing the horrors of Russia’s invasion sought refuge, I see and hear stories of determination, hope and solidarity led by strong Ukrainian women. I am a witness to the fact that women in Ukraine – at all levels – refuse to give up and are relentless in their work to promote a better future for their country. I have been inspired by women in leadership positions, both at the national Government and local level, like the women representatives I met in front-line towns like Kherson, Mylove or Orikhiv, who spare no effort and overcome tremendous challenges to bring some relief to their communities torn apart by the war. It motivates me to see that women are the backbone of the humanitarian response and work non-stop to help their communities under extreme hardship, like the doctor I met in Siversk, in the Donetsk Region. Despite all the risks, she decided to stay there, fearing not the bombs and missiles but the fact that it would be, otherwise, almost impossible for people in her community to access health care. I met so many mothers who had to learn how to support their children who could no longer go to school, at the same time as, with compassion, caring for the sick, the disabled, the elderly and filling the gaps left by a social system massively disrupted by the war.I met in Kramatorsk, Kharkiv and Uzhhorod so many fierce and inspiring women leading organizations and movements advocating for the rights of the people of Ukraine, and striving to ensure no one is left behind, particularly the most vulnerable, including people with disabilities, the Roma or LGBTQIA+ community. And again, they are taking up these massive challenges at a time when they face higher levels of unemployment, a larger and persistent gender pay gap, heightened risk of gender-based violence and obstacles to accessing essential services.Women are as important at the decision-making tables as they are at the frontlines of their communities. For this reason, the UN is committed to continuing our efforts to support them and create platforms at different levels to ensure women have a leading role in Ukraine’s economic and social recovery.
1 of 5
Speech
15 February 2024
Remarks by the Head of the UN in Ukraine, Denise Brown, during the launch of the third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment
I stood here in exact same spot last year when we launched the RDNA2, with the same actors, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the European Union and the World Bank.
I was thinking this morning about what I said then, and I made the point that no one wants to live in a collective centre. People want to return home, be in their communities, send their kids to school, have easy access to health care, and walk down the street to the market. And mainly live without the fear and trauma that war creates.
What I said one year ago is still true and we see it every day: Ukrainians are determined to return to their lives pre-war with their eyes on the future.
That is a big challenge for the 4.5 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine and the 5.9 million people who fled across borders to seek safety and refuge in Europe.
Missile strikes in communities along the front line and beyond, as we saw this morning, including here in Kyiv, almost every day, make that recovery a challenge. The reality is, and I see it all the time, that displacement and collective centres remain an unfortunate reality for millions of Ukrainians. Hospitals, schools, and ports continue to be attacked, damaged and destroyed.
And, I think most horrifically, civilians killed, injured and maimed, including children, which is what we saw yesterday again in the Donetsk Region.
I know the RDNA3 reports it – the UN contributed, there is a great partnership with the Government, the European Union and the World Bank – and I also have what I know from my missions throughout the country that, for the moment – and it is in the report but hasn’t been mentioned yet – humanitarian assistance and recovery are going to have to co-exist for quite some time. And our challenge is linking one to the other.
Humanitarian assistance remains a lifeline for millions of Ukrainians who, because of the war, as I said many times already, can't yet go home or those who remain in their homes along the front-line communities because their life has no meaning anywhere else. And despite their daily struggles, what I heard so many times from those people is that their life has purpose and their life has dignity, no matter how difficult it is.
I really want to emphasize that the Government, the United Nations, the international and national NGOs, local volunteers, the regional and local authorities, we have created a vast network that allow us to respond when a missile strikes a community, for the displaced to provide them with daily support, for the disabled… And in the report you will heart that the number of disabled in the country has grown over 7 per cent since we launched the RDNA 2. And the support for the elderly. So that network provides this assistance.
In Bilozerka, where I was about 10 days ago, and in Kherson, where I was this past Monday, people continue to depend on that assistance. So, the reality is that, again, humanitarian assistance and recovery have to co-exist.
And I really want to thank the donors because your support allowed us collectively to provide 11 million people with assistance in 2023.
But what is that vital step beyond humanitarian assistance, where possible?
For the UN, and in the report this year, you will really see the focus is community recovery.
In Izium, in Mykolaiv, in Sumy, and outside of Kyiv in Ivankiv, the people and the authorities are now well positioned, the conditions are in place to move beyond humanitarian assistance, and take back their lives.
Based on the leadership of local authorities, based on community-determined priorities, civil society engagement, the inclusion of women – not just inclusion of women but inclusion as decision-makers –, the disabled – again whose numbers have grown – and minority communities such as the Roma – I was in Uzhhorod last week and spent some time with them – so when the conditions are there, including security, recovery is taking place.
Social services have been re-established; schools built with bunkers – we heard that 90 per cent of children are registered, not necessarily attending but registered for schools –; hospitals and clinics reconstructed; roads and bridges repaired; agricultural land and critical social infrastructure demined; and small businesses reopened, and many of those small ones are women-owned.
This will have to happen community by community. And the numbers in the report, as you will hear and see when we have the presentation, those are very big numbers, a little bit overwhelming.
But the restoring back is really going to take place in the communities.
I was thinking about Mykolaiv. When I first was there in September 2022, there was no electricity, the water tasted like salt, and most of the people had left. I was there this past weekend, and it is a city that can be lived in now and people have returned.
The RDNA 3 is the documentation of the damage and needs that drives national prioritization and the financial mechanisms. But this year, in that report, we are also focusing on recovery and the human capital.
Behind the numbers is the critical need to ensure that Ukraine has the people with the right skills and capacity to take back their lives, and recover – across the country, not just in part of the country – what was lost.
I just want to finish by saying that the war is fought by the people of Ukraine.
The impact of the war is felt every single day by the people of Ukraine.
And the recovery of the country will depend on the people of Ukraine, with our support. And while we are not pleased that we have to have another RDNA, as Gevorg said, at least we have a document that will drive the priorities, determine the financial requirements, and allow us, all the partners, to align behind the common objectives.
Thank you very much.
***
For more information, refer to the Press Release.
***
For more information, refer to the Press Release.
1 of 5
Press Release
22 February 2024
Over 8 million women and girls in Ukraine will need humanitarian assistance in 2024
The total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is estimated by the World Bank, European Commission, United Nations and the Government of Ukraine at USD 486 billion over the next decade. This war, like all wars, takes a bigger toll on women and girls, who disproportionally carry its burden. Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion, an estimated 3,238 women and girls have been killed and 4,872 injured; while 56 per cent of approximately 4 million internally displaced are women. Predictions for this year are sombre, with women and girls accounting for 56 per cent of those expected to need humanitarian assistance (8 million women and girls). These continued attacks on women and their livelihoods are unacceptable.As we mark this tragic two-year milestone, women in Ukraine face increased challenges in accessing security, justice, social services, mental, sexual and reproductive health services, employment, and other essential services. 72 per cent of people registered as unemployed are women. The war has also heightened the risks of gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, human trafficking, and intimate partner violence. Amidst the unprecedented challenges of war, women have become the backbone of Ukraine’s economy. Currently, one out of every two businesses in the country is founded by a woman. In 2023 alone, Ukrainian women led the creation of over 10,000 new companies. Additionally, more than 62,000 women are serving in the military, including 43,479 on active duty and over 5,000 stationed at the frontline.“As women continue to suffer the consequences of the war in Ukraine, they need support, security, and most of all, peace. Their resilience throughout has been enduring and remarkable. I reiterate UN Women’s solidarity and admiration for every woman in Ukraine who is supporting her family, community and country whether through the provision of humanitarian assistance, or leadership of contributing to recovery and reconstruction,” highlighted Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine. Women and women-led organizations are playing a significant role in providing humanitarian aid, supporting their communities and sustaining the economy. “As an internally displaced person and professional psychologist, I have been helping other women to overcome their problems, including forced displacement, violence, and unemployment. In my role of coordinator for a project in the city of Sambir we organize a variety of activities, including psychological and psychotherapeutic groups, art classes, and English language lessons”, explains Anastasiia Pyrohova from Women's Perspectives, one of the 40 civil society organizations supported by UN Women. UN Women works in Ukraine providing humanitarian response to more than 45,000 women and girls as well as 100,000 dependents indirectly supported in 2023 through life-saving humanitarian assistance, as well as psychological support, legal aid, and referrals to social services. In 2023, UN Women disbursed USD 10.6 million to support women and women-led civil society organizations nationwide. UN Women also cooperates closely with the government and civil society to further advance laws and policies that support gender equality and women’s empowerment. Women are also being economically empowered through livelihood recovery support, skills development, business support, and access to employment as part of initiatives like the “Women's Entrepreneurship Expo”. Despite the ongoing violence, women in Ukraine are pushing forward to create a more gender-equal society and deserve our support.
***Media inquiries: media.team@unwomen.org
***Media inquiries: media.team@unwomen.org
1 of 5
Press Release
28 February 2024
Russian Federation’s decade-long occupation of Crimea marked by widespread violations
In a report issued today, HRMMU said the Russian Federation has unlawfully imposed its citizenship, laws, and institutions on Crimea’s population across all spheres of life, suppressing opposition and dissent. The report cites examples of steps taken by the Russian Federation to restrict the civic space and limit fundamental freedoms. Crimean Tatar leaders, perceived as opposing the occupation of Crimea or the Russian Federation policies, were among those particularly affected by the measures. While Crimean Tatars, who fled the peninsula in the wake of the illegal annexation, have been barred from returning to their homeland, many Russians have been resettled in Crimea, in an apparent attempt to change the peninsula’s demographic structure. Large-scale expropriations of public and private property have been implemented without compensation or regard for international law.“Over the past decade, we have documented efforts by the Russian Federation to impose the Russian language, culture, and institutional framework on Crimea while at the same time taking actions to erase the peninsula’s rich cultural, linguistic, and religious heritage,” said the head of HRMMU, Danielle Bell.The report says opposition to the efforts by the Russian Federation to consolidate its hold on Crimea has been met with harsh reprisals. Individuals who opposed or challenged the occupation were subjected to human rights violations, including enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment. HRMMU says it documented 104 cases of enforced disappearance and 55 cases of torture affecting pro-Ukrainian activists, journalists and Crimean Tatars.The occupying authorities in Crimea have suppressed freedom of expression, including the expressions of minority cultures and identities, and severely curtailed the freedom of religion of minority groups, particularly those opposing official narratives, the report said.“Our findings on the human rights situation in Crimea, which has endured Russian occupation for more than a decade now, are not only alarming but they are also a grim harbinger of the devastating and lasting impact Russian occupation may have on other occupied regions of Ukraine,” said Bell.
1 of 5
Story
19 February 2024
Aid workers go the extra mile for Oleksandr
"I desperately needed simple things – to do shopping, to cook food, to maintain hygiene. I also needed surgery that couldn't be performed in our town." In October 2023, Oleksandr suffered an injury unrelated to the war that rendered him almost immobile and in need of urgent hip replacement surgery. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine, particularly fierce in the south and east, had disrupted local service providers, including health facilities and public transport. Residents with a disability, trauma or illness were in a dire situation, unable to access essential services.
"The relentless hostilities in areas close to the front lines, particularly in the east and the south of the country, have severely affected civilian infrastructure and disrupted public transportation," says Yevhen Kaplin, Head of Humanitarian Mission Proliska. “Social transport is a lifeline.”
Humanitarian Mission Proliska is just one of the many humanitarian organizations that stepped in after recognizing the urgent need for assistance in regions devastated by the war. It offers social transportation services – a lifeline for people stranded in front-line towns.
"I was referred to the humanitarian organization [Humanitarian Mission Proliska],” Oleksandr explains, a glimmer of hope in his voice.
This referral marked a turning point in his quest for aid. Within a few days, he was on his way to Uzhhorod, located 1,200 km to the west of Ukraine, to receive proper medical care and support.
Proliska has offered social transport services since 2022, with support from the OCHA-managed Humanitarian Fund for Ukraine. It helped Oleksandr in every way possible.
For example, when he needed blood during surgery, the organization’s staff donated their blood without hesitation. "The blood was urgently needed for an older person, so I made the decision to contribute. If one can easily help, why not?” explains Proliska staff member Artem Bakalo. “Moreover, I have experience as a blood donor and frequently donate, especially given the ongoing war and the high demand for surgeries." Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, protection partners have provided evacuation and social transportation support to about 1.2 million people. In 2023, they assisted more than 170,000 people – 60 per cent of whom were older people and people with disabilities.
For example, when he needed blood during surgery, the organization’s staff donated their blood without hesitation. "The blood was urgently needed for an older person, so I made the decision to contribute. If one can easily help, why not?” explains Proliska staff member Artem Bakalo. “Moreover, I have experience as a blood donor and frequently donate, especially given the ongoing war and the high demand for surgeries." Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, protection partners have provided evacuation and social transportation support to about 1.2 million people. In 2023, they assisted more than 170,000 people – 60 per cent of whom were older people and people with disabilities.
1 of 5
Story
14 March 2024
Hot meals and bomb shelters: In Ukraine, wartime school meals offer nourishment and security
It’s 10:15 am at Velyka Mykhailivka’s primary school, in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, where around 100 young faces aged six to ten are lining up at the canteen to receive their daily meal. The smell of pea soup wafting from the kitchen makes it hard to stay still and respect teachers’ orders to wash hands before sitting down. Over the past week, this village has witnessed seven air raid alarms lasting nearly eight hours in total. The surrounding area borders the sea, which is constantly contested. Port infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted by missiles, while attacks on cities and villages are also very common. Residents take the air raid alerts seriously. Each time they sound means rockets or drones carrying explosive charges are approaching. Despite the danger, approximately 6,000 people reside in the village. This lyceum is one of 700 schools supported by the World Food Programme’s (WFP) school feeding programme, which helps provide daily nutritious meals to 100,000 children in Ukraine. Besides the pea soup, today’s school menu offers pasta with meat. The children also receive compote (a drink made from fresh or frozen fruits or berries) and bananas. One meal at this school this year would have cost $1.29 (50 hryvnias) per day. Accordingly, a month of meals for one child would have cost approximately $26. That’s a hefty sum for struggling families in Ukraine, where the minimum salary is the equivalent of $US185. “It’s hard to explain to little children why someone goes to lunch and someone doesn’t,” says maths teacher Natalia Kravchenko, the school’s principal. “This especially applies to children from disadvantaged or poor families … whose parents cannot afford to pay for meals.“So we’re very glad,” she adds, “that our school participates in the World Food Programme’s school feeding initiative.”Kravchenko has been managing this school for 18 years. She has known it for much longer. She started as a first grade pupil in 1977, when the school first opened. Her main goal during the war has been to maintain as normal a life as possible for the children. During air alarms, the students are taken to a shelter in the school’s basement. But the basement cannot accommodate all students at once, so Kravchenko decided to split classes into two shifts to keep everyone safe: elementary school pupils start at 8 a.m.; their high school peers begin at 11:30 a.m. The latter are divided into two groups, alternating between in-person and remote learning every week. Maria, a first grader, has already finished her pea soup – her favorite dish – while Dasha, her classmate, tells us she prefers the pasta. Roman, Maria’s father, works as a sports coach at the school. Finding jobs in the village is tough. There are few businesses – or plans for any new ones– because of the uncertainty of the war and regular air raids. So most job opportunities are found in public institutions like schools, hospitals, and the village council. “Both my wife and I have jobs,” he says – Maria’s mum, Yaroslava, works at another school.“But we are the lucky ones,” adds Roman. “There are children whose parents cannot afford to buy them a banana, an orange, or an apple.” Managing children’s school schedules is a complicated juggling act for parents - made more complicated by the conflict. Six-year-old Dasha wakes up at 6:30 a.m, her mother Oksana says, leaving little time to give her breakfast. “One child is in elementary school, the other in high school, and I also have a job,” Oksana adds. “Sometimes, I come home, and I ask her, ‘Dasha, will you eat?’ and she says, ‘No, I already ate at school, they have such delicious cutlets and fish there!’ And I understand that my child is eating healthy food at school, while I’m saving a significant portion of the family budget.” The WFP school meals programme covers 30 percent of the cost of daily hot meals for children in grades 1-4. This helps to ease the financial burden on parents, especially those who are barely scraping by.In February, thanks to WFP support, a hot meal at this school costs students’ families only 16 kopiykas — far less than a single US penny. With cheaper lunches, 125 pupils are now eating at the canteen, compared to 90 at the start of the year.The daily meals also bring a much-needed sense of routine, stability, and normalcy in this time of war. Many of the school’s pupils and their families were displaced by the fighting. They are rebuilding lives here that could again fall apart at a moment’s notice.“If it weren't for the war, we would already be planning for a second child,” says Maria's father, Roman. “But the situation here is complex. With Transnistria just 30km away, fighting could erupt at any moment. So, my car is always fueled, and our belongings are packed, just in case we need to flee.” Funding for WFP school feeding in Ukraine was provided by the French government, and Mastercard, WFP’s longstanding partner of 12 years. Mastercard has supported WFP’s efforts to provide school meals to vulnerable communities worldwide, and their early funding for school feeding in Ukraine has helped ensure that children like Maria and Dasha can receive a daily hot meal.
1 of 5
Story
11 March 2024
Ukraine: Restoring scientific infrastructure will cost over $1.26 billion (UNESCO)
The report reveals that 1,443 buildings and laboratories, as well as 750 pieces of scientific equipment, have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the war in February 2022. Ukraine’s scientific community has experienced significant setbacks and a drop in scientific funding.Read the full study here.As the situation becomes more and more critical for the scientific community, we must protect and support their research in Ukraine. Scientists, engineers and other experts will be essential to the country's recovery, not to mention what this sector represents as a valuable source of innovation and discovery for the rest of the world.Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-GeneralBefore the Russian invasion, Ukraine was internationally renowned for its important contributions to fields like Computer Science, Nuclear Physics and Astronomy. From 2015 to 2019, the total volume of scientific publications (excluding social sciences, arts and humanities) increased by 45%. In AI and Robotics alone, Ukraine produced 6,214 publications between 2012 and 2019 (UNESCO 2021 Science Report).According to the new study published today by UNESCO and the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a total of 1,443 buildings belonging to 177 scientific institutions have been damaged or destroyed in the past two years. Restoring these buildings will cost more than $ 1.21 billion – including $ 980.5 million for universities alone as these have suffered the greatest losses. The Kharkiv region's scientific infrastructure has been the most severely affected, with the highest damage costs borne by the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University ($ 116.5 million) and the O. M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy ($ 104.1 million). Much essential equipment has been destroyed or stolenIn addition to the buildings themselves, over 750 pieces of scientific and technical equipment have been damaged, with 643 items damaged beyond repair. This includes equipment used in a wide range of research activities. The total cost to restore this essential research equipment is estimated at $ 45.9 million.The temporary occupation of territories by Russian forces is also having a major impact: 18 scientific institutes have had to relocate, some of which were conducting studies on local biodiversity and ecology which cannot continue remotely. The situation around the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants, near Zaporizhzhia, is of particular concern. Essential equipment for monitoring the state of the nuclear industry has been stolen or destroyed, including a unique radiological laboratory which controls radiation levels. The loss of this monitoring equipment represents a major security threat for the wider region. A significant setback for Ukraine’s scientific communityThe war has dispersed Ukrainian scientists across the country and even abroad, and their working conditions have deteriorated. In February 2022, the public research sector employed 88,629 researchers. Since then, 12% (10,429) of these researchers and professors from 524 institutions and universities have been forced to either relocate elsewhere within Ukraine (4,887) or abroad (5,542). Germany and Poland currently host the highest number of Ukrainian scientists in exile. The number of scientists employed by Ukraine’s public research sector has dropped by 4,958 (5,3%).About 30% of Ukraine’s scientists are now forced to work remotely. This includes both emigrants and internally displaced personnel, such those forced to flee areas most affected by the bombardments: Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipro, Odesa and the Zaporizhzhia region. A growing lack of fundsFunding for science has also been significantly reduced. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross domestic expenditure on research and development shrank by 38.5% between 2021 and 2022, from $ 2019.5 million to $1242.1 million.Since 2021, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, representing 450 affiliated institutes, has seen a 48% reduction in its budget. This has forced the suspension of multiple research programmes and led to the weakening of many research groups and teams. Average monthly salaries have dropped by 39% and many researchers have been forced to work part-time.Over the past two years, the displacement of scientists and budget cuts have affected Ukraine’s scientific output, including publishing activity, as well as the level of collaboration with member states of the European Union, members of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership and countries in Africa and Asia. On 11 March, UNESCO is convening a meeting at its headquarters (Paris, France) at which scientists from Ukraine and beyond will discuss the study's findings with the Organization’s Member States, and consider the next steps in UNESCO's support for Ukraine.Read moreUNESCO’s “Analysis of War Damage to the Ukrainian Science Sector and its Conseq…
1 of 5
Story
15 February 2024
Updated Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Needs Assessment Released
After almost two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3) released today by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the United Nations currently estimates that as of 31 December 2023 the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is $486 billion over the next decade, up from $411 billion estimated one year ago.
In 2024 alone, Ukrainian authorities estimate the country will need around $15 billion for immediate reconstruction and recovery priorities at both the national and community level, with a particular focus on supporting and mobilizing the private sector alongside restoration of housing, soft infrastructure and services, energy, and transport. The RDNA3 highlights that while some $5.5 billion of this funding has been secured, from both Ukraine’s international partners and its own resources, about $9.5 billion is currently unfunded.
"Despite the ongoing full-scale war, the Ukrainian government, with the support of international partners, continues to implement a rapid recovery program. The execution of the Third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3) allows us to approach this process more systematically. We are grateful to the World Bank and other partners for this work," said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. "We see that the needs for reconstruction have continued to grow over the past year. The main resource for Ukraine's recovery should be the confiscation of Russian assets frozen in the West. We need to start this process already this year. Concurrently, the Ukrainian government is creating conditions to attract private investments, which will accelerate the reconstruction process and transform our country on its path to the EU."
Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said: “Russia’s war of aggression continues to have far-reaching consequences on Ukraine. The EU will continue to play a key role in addressing the short and medium-term challenges identified in today’s RDNA3 report. By making available the updated information, RDNA3 helps to further focus the recovery, reconstruction and modernization effort through Ukraine Facility and Ukraine Plan.”
The RDNA3, which covers damages incurred over a nearly two-year period from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, to December 31, 2023, finds that direct damage in Ukraine has now reached almost $152 billion, with housing, transport, commerce and industry, energy, and agriculture as the most affected sectors. Damage is concentrated in the Donetska, Kharkivska, Luhanska, Zaporizka, Khersonska, and Kyivska oblasts which are the same regions that suffered the greatest damage as reported in the previous assessment.
Across the country, 10% of the housing stock has been damaged or destroyed, prolonging displacement of Ukrainians from their communities. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and the hydropower plant in June 2023 has resulted in significant negative impacts on the environment and agriculture and exacerbated challenges already faced by people struggling to access housing, water, food, and health services.
The RDNA3 lists critical investment needs for short-term recovery and medium-term reconstruction. Where possible, the assessment considers and excludes the needs that have already been met through the state budget and support provided by partners and the international community.
The RDNA3 also highlights the continued need for reforms and policies that catalyze private sector involvement and ensure an inclusive and green recovery, as well as integrating project planning into the medium-term budget planning process.
“The last two years have seen unprecedented suffering and loss for Ukraine and its people,” said Antonella Bassani, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia. “Yet, while this updated assessment documents the extensive damages and consequent needs, it is at the same time a testament to Ukraine’s resilience—demonstrating that the dedication and adaptability of its people have helped to already repair some of the damage and build towards recovery. As the Ukrainian authorities continue on their path towards economic recovery and ambitious reforms, we, the World Bank Group, remain deeply committed to working with them to secure a better future.”
The RDNA3 findings complement the priorities foreseen in reform and investment agenda of the Ukraine Plan that will lay the framework for implementing payments under the Ukraine Facility for the next four years by the EU. As Ukraine prepares for the EU accession process, these reforms and investments support the principles of “building back better” and the institutional capacity of national and subnational authorities.
Since the last assessment (RDNA2), the Government of Ukraine, with the support of its partners, has met some of the most urgent needs. For example, in the housing sector, according to the Government of Ukraine data, in 2023, $1 billion was disbursed toward housing sector recovery, with most being dedicated to the repair and reconstruction of damaged buildings. In the transport sector, more than 2,000km of emergency repairs were made on motorways, highways, and other national roads. In the education sector, local authorities rebuilt approximately 500 educational institutions and since January 2023, the share of educational institutions with bomb shelters has increased from 68% to 80%.
The RDNA3 also includes stronger data and analysis of the impact on vulnerable groups of people and on communities. It presents the case for investment in Ukraine’s human capital.
“The war is not over. The suffering is not over,” said Denise Brown, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine. “But communities in Ukraine are demonstrating significant courage and commitment in driving their own inclusive recovery processes and they need the continued support of their international partners. The future of Ukraine depends upon the people of Ukraine; this is where we need to invest.”
The overall costs reflected in the recovery and reconstruction figure of $486 billion—estimated over 10 years—include measures required for rebuilding for a modern, low-carbon, inclusive and climate-resilient future. The highest estimated recovery and reconstruction needs are in housing (17% of the total), followed by transport (15%), commerce and industry (14%), agriculture (12%), energy (10%), social protection and livelihoods (9%), and explosive hazard management (7%). Across all sectors, the cost of debris clearance and management (and demolition where needed) reached almost $11 billion.
***
1 of 5
Story
06 February 2024
In a rare video contest, Ukrainians of all ages tackle human rights in the middle of war
"I saw a contest, and I thought that we have this situation in Ukraine, and why not show Ukrainians in this situation? Every person has a right to life," says the 11-year-old from Chernivtsi in Western Ukraine. Andriy, who dreams of becoming a video game developer in the future, was among the five winners of a video contest organized earlier this year by the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
“The video contest aimed to encourage film makers to show how the UDHR can advance its promise of freedom, equality and justice for all,” says Danielle Bell who heads the UN’s Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
Bell‘s previous experience in war-ravaged Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrated how short films could be a powerful tool for digital storytelling. “The videos were powerful, conveying the intense emotions of people affected by the trauma and devastation of war, which profoundly impacts human rights,” she explains.
The UN contest drew 51 participants of all ages from all over Ukraine. Participants included a colorful mix of primary schoolers, university students, lecturers and activists. The three main contest winners were chosen by a public vote on the UN Monitoring Mission’s Instagram page. Two more prizes were awarded by a panel of UN staff. The winners came from Mykolaiv, Rivne, Chernivtsi and Khmelnytskiy regions of Ukraine.
Ruslana, a teacher at a media school for children in Rivne, says her students themselves decided on how best to approach the context. “It was really the kid’s idea,” she says, “they brainstormed on how to show human rights, they themselves came up with a script that focused on visiting places that they could no longer visit because of the war, and they also acted in it,” she says. The idea for the theme of the prize-winning video came from 13-year-old Vlad whose family had to flee the southern city of Kherson at the beginning of the war.
Oleksandr, a police school cadet and a student in Kamianets Podilskiy in south-western Ukraine, says he and his classmates, who produced another prize-winning video, decided to focus on human rights violations and war crimes committed since Russia invaded Ukraine 22 months ago. He argues that the filming as such was not very challenging, but the editing process was. “Still, these are positive emotions that everyone warmly remembers,” he says, despite the video’s grim topic.
Roman, a university lecturer and practicing journalist from Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, notes that the topic chosen by his students—overwork—is currently relevant for many Ukrainians. With over three years of experience working for a local TV channel, Roman has extensive experience in creating videos. He reflects, “I've had many projects, but none like this one. The collaborative process of group scriptwriting, direction, and filming ignited a desire in me and provided motivation for my students.” He adds that they are planning to create videos on human rights issues. “Students need it for professional growth, and the country needs it to increase awareness of its citizens' rights,” Roman added.
“The topics highlighted in the videos address a wide range of human rights issues, such as the right to life, personal dignity, access to education, and more. Amid the suffering caused by this war, we hope that these narratives contribute to creating a more compassionate and informed global community,” says Bell noted.
The short video produced by Ruslan, a law student at the Chernivtsi National University, one of Ukraine’s oldest schools, tackles loss during the war. “Reflecting on the past and present, peacetime and wartime is a painful topic for most Ukrainians, including children whose parents are now fighting in the East and losing their lives,” he says. “The moment your father has not returned is really painful,” says Ruslan. “It hasn’t happened to me, but I hear such stories all the time.” He explains that making a video for the contest was an inspiring and eye-opening experience. He says he now wants to set up an NGO to protect the human rights of servicepersons.
Ruslana, the teacher from Rivne, says Ukraine’s soldiers serving on the frontline are also on her young students’ minds. She recalls that recently her students produced a video with a digital wish list for Santa Claus. They asked Santa to bring the fighters back safely, but in the meantime to make sure they had hot tea.
***
1 of 5
Story
02 February 2024
As winter and war grip Ukraine, families on the frontlines find sustenance
On a cold and gloomy day in Veselianka village, in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, a few dozen people gather at a food distribution point where the World Food Programme (WFP) provides monthly food assistance. Hands tucked in their pockets to keep warm, the villagers’ chatter and jokes fill the windless air and cover the muted thud of shells falling in the distance.
Not so long ago, Veselianka was home to nearly 1,000 people, many of whom harvested sunflower, wheat or oilseed rape from the region’s rich, dark soil. But when fighting reached its outskirts in March 2022, and the sounds of war grew louder and louder, almost half of its residents fled.
‘Our land was ready to be cultivated, but we could no longer stay – the house was completely unprotected from the wind and the cold’
In Ukraine, many continue to live near areas of intense fighting. (Still, “there is no place like home,” says Alla, who lives in Veselianka with her husband.)
Attached to their land and their homes, or afraid of prolonged displacement, they remain despite the incredible dangers. Others are forced to return to their farms and livelihoods after running out of options to make ends meet while on the move.
With support from the EU and other donors, WFP has been ramping up its assistance to these families and others across Ukraine, to reach 2.4 million people each month this winter with food or cash grants. Yet WFP’s Ukraine operations are only 54 percent funded, and require an additional US$180 million for the next six months.
Food distributions, either of 30-day food boxes of a mix of staples, or of fresh bread and canned goods, focus on areas near the frontlines, like Veselianka. More than half-a-million people received such rations in January alone.
The assistance is badly needed. The war continues to disrupt production and supply chains in Ukraine, making access to food unreliable in many eastern and southern areas. Around one in five Ukrainians is food insecure, with those near the frontlines facing particularly dire conditions.
‘There was a time we were without electricity for three to four days, shelling could be heard constantly. I only thought of my children and grandchildren’
“Life hasn’t gotten better or easier for Ukrainians this year – the war continues unabated, with strikes on civilian areas intensifying in recent weeks, continued damage to infrastructure, and more and more civilian casualties,” says Marianne Ward, WFP’s Country Director ad interim for Ukraine.
“People living near the frontlines have faced the worst of it”, she adds, “and they count on the continued support of humanitarian organizations to make ends meet.”
Home on the frontlines
Early into the war, Alla and her husband considered joining the exodus from Veselianka as well, after initially wanting to stay. Their decision was hastened when a missile landed in their yard, destroying the windows and roof of their family home, and forcing them out.
“We were in despair,” recalls Alla with tears in her eyes. “Our land was ready to be cultivated, but we could no longer stay - the house was completely unprotected from the wind and the cold.”
The couple’s daughter hosted them for a while. But weeks later, they were back.
“We could not stand being away for too long,” Alla says.
With the conflict approaching its third year, the explosions have become background noise for Alla and her neighbours. They have adapted to life on the frontlines, stocking makeshift shelters with water, snacks, and warm clothing.
Last winter was particularly harsh, with freezing temperatures, power outages, and soaring heating costs. Most of the nearby shops had empty shelves. The people of Veselianka did their best to prepare and withstand.
“There was a time when we were without electricity for three to four days,” Alla recalls. “Shelling could be heard constantly. I only thought of my children and grandchildren. I called my daughter all the time, to make sure they were safe.”
Another hard winter
On this third winter of war and with prices continuing to rise, families like Alla’s are again struggling to afford food, heat and home repairs. Humanitarian assistance from WFP and others helps to fill the gaps.
“The prices are rising all the time,” Alla says. “Our only income is our two pensions. How can we afford it all?”
For her and many others on the frontlines, WFP’s food box – consisting of staple foods such as canned beans or meat, pasta, wheat flour, sunflower oil, buckwheat, sugar and salt – is a lifesaver, especially for elderly people living alone.
“The canned meat and cereals – these are the basis for us,” Alla says. “At least we don’t have to worry about food.”
In the mornings she bakes traditional pancakes, known as mlyntsi using WFP-supplied flour.
“In the evening we sip on tea and we plan the future,” Alla says with a smile. “One must have plans – no matter what.”
***
Thanks to the European Union and other partners, WFP continues to provide life-saving food and cash assistance to the most vulnerable Ukrainians, as well as support to the humanitarian response with common logistics and telecommunication services.
1 of 5
Press Release
15 March 2024
ALL EFFORTS MUST BE TAKEN TO PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIVES IN UKRAINE
I am appalled by the horrible tragedy that struck Odesa City hours ago when scores of civilians and first responders were killed and injured in attacks by the Russian Federation. My thoughts are with their families and with all the residents of Odesa who have already suffered too much from this war.The attack came in the middle of a busy Friday and was immediately followed by another, impacting rescuers, including a health worker, who rushed to help.The loss of lives and injuries inflicted on civilians and those selflessly risking their lives to save them is utterly unacceptable. International humanitarian law requires the protection of civilian population, and launching an attack knowing that it would be disproportionate is a breach of this law. The civilian toll of the Russian Federation's war on Ukraine continues to grow, all efforts must be taken to stop the deaths and suffering of civilians.
1 of 5
Press Release
15 March 2024
Ukraine: UN Commission concerned by continuing patterns of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law
The Commission found new evidence that Russian authorities have committed violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, and corresponding war crimes, in areas that came under their control in Ukraine. The Commission is concerned by the continued use of explosive weapons in civilian areas. The multiplicity of such attacks confirms a pattern of disregard by Russian armed forces for possible harm to civilians.The report assessed the grave impact on civilians of the fighting in and the siege of Mariupol at the outset of the full-scale invasion. Satellite imagery provides indication of wide-spread destruction of whole urban areas of the city. Residents described unbearable suffering endured during relentless shelling and aerial bombardments which caused large-scale death, injury, and destruction. After emerging from shelters, civilians reported seeing dead bodies strewn on the streets and in the rubble of their homes. Data obtained by the Commission indicates that at least 58 medical infrastructure buildings and 11 power stations were damaged or destroyed in Mariupol. More generally, recent indiscriminate attacks violating international humanitarian law committed by Russian armed forces have led to civilian casualties and the destruction and damage of civilian objects, including of protected objects such as hospitals and cultural property. Often, Russian armed forces failed to take feasible precautions to verify that the affected objects are not civilian. ”We are concerned at the scale, continuation, and gravity of violations and crimes that the Commission has investigated and the impact on victims and the affected communities,“ said the Chair of the Commission, Erik Møse. New evidence strengthens the Commission’s previous findings that torture against civilians by Russian authorities in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation has been widespread and systematic. The current report focuses on torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war and describes cases of horrific treatment of such prisoners in several detention facilities in the Russian Federation. Victims’ accounts disclose relentless, brutal treatment inflicting severe pain and suffering during prolonged detention, with blatant disregard for human dignity. This has led to long-lasting physical and mental trauma. One Ukrainian soldier, who was detained and tortured by Russian authorities in several detention facilities, recounted his experience in the correctional colony in the town of Donskoy, Tula region, where he was repeatedly subjected to torture and left with broken bones, broken teeth and gangrene on an injured foot. “I lost any hope and the will to live,” the soldier said, adding that he had tried to kill himself but perpetrators subjected him to further beating. After his release, the soldier has been hospitalized 36 times.Investigations found additional evidence concerning the unlawful transfer of children to areas under Russian control. The report documents incidents of rape and other sexual violence committed against women and a girl in circumstances which also amount to torture. It also details incidents of torture with a sexualised dimension and threats of rape against male prisoners of war.The report also describes a few violations of human rights by Ukrainian authorities against persons suspected of collaboration with Russian authorities. The Commission strongly condemns all violations and corresponding crimes. Its current findings confirm the necessity to continue investigations, including to determine whether some of the situations identified may constitute crimes against humanity.Finally, the Commission reiterates the importance of ensuring that perpetrators are identified and held accountable. Bringing perpetrators to justice is crucial but so is attending to the needs of victims. Therefore, the Commission also emphasizes the significance of other dimensions of accountability, such as truth, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence.The report reflects the Commission’s findings during its second mandate. The Commission will present its report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva early next week.***Note to editors: The full report can be found here.The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine was created by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022 to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes in the context of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. The Commission comprises Erik Møse (Chair), Pablo de Greiff and Vrinda Grover.More information on the work of Commission can be found here.For media queries, please contact: Saule Mukhametrakhimova, Media Adviser, Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine; Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-83450, Mobile: (+43-676) 3493464; Email: saule.mukhametrakhimova@un.org.In Geneva: Todd Pitman, Media Adviser for the UN Human Rights Council’s Investigative Missions, todd.pitman@un.org / (+41) 76 691 1761; or Pascal Sim, Human Rights Council Media Officer, simp@un.org / (+41) 79 477 4411.
1 of 5
Press Release
12 March 2024
YET ANOTHER UKRAINIAN CITY SHAKEN BY A HORRENDOUS ATTACK
About an hour ago, an attack struck the city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipro Region, central Ukraine, damaging a multi-storey building and burying residents under the rubble.Dozens of civilians, including children, are among the casualties. Humanitarian organizations are already on site, providing emergency support. I am appalled to know that families were just getting together to have dinner and spend a quiet evening at home just to see their homes damaged and their loved ones hurt. There appears to be a pattern of attacks across Ukraine and in front-line regions, impacting homes and civilian infrastructure, killing and injuring civilians who were just living their lives. Russia’s war on Ukraine has exacted a devastating toll on the Ukrainian civilians, who continue to pay the highest price possible. International Humanitarian Law is clear: civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
1 of 5
Press Release
11 March 2024
IT IS TIME TO FURTHER SCALE UP SUPPORT TO PROMOTE THE RECOVERY OF UKRAINIAN COMMUNITIES RIPPED APART BY RUSSIA’S INVASION – UN
“Humanitarian aid remains a lifeline for millions of people in Ukraine, particularly those living along the front line. However, where conditions allow, with the Government, we have transitioned from providing exclusively humanitarian assistance to supporting the recovery of communities ripped apart by Russia’s Invasion,” said Denise Brown. She added that it is time to further scale up this support, explaining that in some parts of Ukraine, like the Sumy and Mykolaiv regions, with the strong leadership of regional and local authorities, participation of civil society organizations, and support from the UN and the international community, people can start rebuilding their lives. During today’s meeting, the Deputy Heads of Mykolaiv and Sumy Regional Administration presented their experience of transitioning from humanitarian aid to an approach that also integrates activities to promote economic and social recovery, creating the conditions for people to return and life to continue as before the war. The UN-led Community Recovery Fund is supporting some of these activities. ***Note to editors:The Expanded Steering Committee is co-chaired by the Vice Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine - Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, and the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown. The Membership includes the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, UN agencies, national and International NGOs, humanitarian and development donors, including the European Union, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States, and International Financial Institutions, including the World Bank and European Investment Bank.Find here more information about the Ukraine Community Recovery Fund.
1 of 5
Press Release
11 March 2024
Ukraine: Restoring scientific infrastructure will cost over $1.26 billion (UNESCO)
Read the full study here.Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO"As the situation becomes more and more critical for the scientific community, we must protect and support their research in Ukraine. Scientists, engineers and other experts will be essential to the country's recovery, not to mention what this sector represents as a valuable source of innovation and discovery for the rest of the world.”Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was internationally renowned for its important contributions to fields like Computer Science, Nuclear Physics and Astronomy. From 2015 to 2019, the total volume of scientific publications (excluding social sciences, arts and humanities) increased by 45%. In AI and Robotics alone, Ukraine produced 6,214 publications between 2012 and 2019 (UNESCO 2021 Science Report).According to the new study published today by UNESCO and the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a total of 1,443 buildings belonging to 177 scientific institutions have been damaged or destroyed in the past two years. Restoring these buildings will cost more than $ 1.21 billion – including $ 980.5 million for universities alone as these have suffered the greatest losses.The Kharkiv region's scientific infrastructure has been the most severely affected, with the highest damage costs borne by the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University ($ 116.5 million) and the O. M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy ($ 104.1 million).Much essential equipment has been destroyed or stolenIn addition to the buildings themselves, over 750 pieces of scientific and technical equipment have been damaged, with 643 items damaged beyond repair. This includes equipment used in a wide range of research activities. The total cost to restore this essential research equipment is estimated at $ 45.9 million.The temporary occupation of territories by Russian forces is also having a major impact: 18 scientific institutes have had to relocate, some of which were conducting studies on local biodiversity and ecology which cannot continue remotely.The situation around the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants, near Zaporizhzhia, is of particular concern. Essential equipment for monitoring the state of the nuclear industry has been stolen or destroyed, including a unique radiological laboratory which controls radiation levels. The loss of this monitoring equipment represents a major security threat for the wider region.A significant setback for Ukraine’s scientific communityThe war has dispersed Ukrainian scientists across the country and even abroad, and their working conditions have deteriorated. In February 2022, the public research sector employed 88,629 researchers. Since then, 12% (10,429) of these researchers and professors from 524 institutions and universities have been forced to either relocate elsewhere within Ukraine (4,887) or abroad (5,542). Germany and Poland currently host the highest number of Ukrainian scientists in exile. The number of scientists employed by Ukraine’s public research sector has dropped by 4,958 (5,3%).About 30% of Ukraine’s scientists are now forced to work remotely. This includes both emigrants and internally displaced personnel, such those forced to flee areas most affected by the bombardments: Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Dnipro, Odesa and the Zaporizhzhia region.
A growing lack of fundsFunding for science has also been significantly reduced. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross domestic expenditure on research and development shrank by 38.5% between 2021 and 2022, from $ 2019.5 million to $1242.1 million.Since 2021, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, representing 450 affiliated institutes, has seen a 48% reduction in its budget. This has forced the suspension of multiple research programmes and led to the weakening of many research groups and teams. Average monthly salaries have dropped by 39% and many researchers have been forced to work part-time.Over the past two years, the displacement of scientists and budget cuts have affected Ukraine’s scientific output, including publishing activity, as well as the level of collaboration with member states of the European Union, members of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership and countries in Africa and Asia.On 11 March, UNESCO is convening a meeting at its headquarters (Paris, France) at which scientists from Ukraine and beyond will discuss the study's findings with the Organization’s Member States, and consider the next steps in UNESCO's support for Ukraine.Read moreUNESCO’s “Analysis of War Damage to the Ukrainian Science Sector and its Consequences”About UNESCOWith 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945. More information: www.unesco.org
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
Resources
21 February 2024
Resources
13 December 2023
1 / 11