Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, critical infrastructure has been severely damaged, and hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by ongoing conflict, creating an urgent need for humanitarian aid. UNICEF has highlighted that children and families already experiencing extreme daily stress are now facing the additional challenges of a harsh winter, with temperatures often dropping to -20°C (-4°F) and widespread destruction of housing, energy, and heating infrastructure making the season particularly dangerous for children.
The regions most affected by the cold are concentrated in northern and eastern Ukraine, including frontline and border areas such as Chernihivska, Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Kharkivska, and Sumska. Nearly half of Ukrainian families rely on centralized water heated by gas or coal, but local heating infrastructure has sustained almost $2.5 billion in damage since 2022. Rising household poverty, which has increased by 15 percent over the past three years and now affects over a third of the population, disproportionately impacts children, with around 70 percent living in poverty. The combination of cold temperatures and economic hardship significantly endangers children’s health and well-being, with one in five families reporting health issues linked to cold indoor conditions.
UNICEF’s 2025–26 winter response plan aims to provide lifesaving support to vulnerable families and maintain essential services to protect children. The plan focuses on cash transfers to households and schools, as well as sustainable repairs and upgrades to local heating systems. Key measures include cash assistance for winterization targeting 272,000 people, including 122,000 children, cash grants to 600 education facilities supporting 250,000 students, and equipment and emergency repairs to district heating systems to ensure sustainable heating for one million people, including 170,000 children.
Challenges persist due to limited funding, restricted access to some regions, extensive infrastructure damage, and the unpredictability of ongoing hostilities. UNICEF is seeking $65 million to support over one million people as part of the broader 2025–2026 UN winter response plan, which requires $277.7 million to continue providing aid to the most vulnerable populations in Ukraine.
