United Nations officials warn that the beginning of 2026 has brought renewed fighting and devastation to Ukraine, with no pause in hostilities and worsening conditions for civilians. As winter temperatures plunge far below freezing, intensified Russian attacks are causing widespread destruction, killing and injuring civilians while cutting millions of people off from electricity, heating, and water for extended periods.
The strikes have focused heavily on energy infrastructure, deepening the winter crisis and placing the greatest burden on older people, children, and those with limited mobility. Large-scale drone and missile attacks in early January caused significant casualties and damage, particularly in Kyiv, where parts of the city were left without heating and hundreds of thousands of residents were affected during extreme cold.
Damage has also been reported across other regions, including western Ukraine, where residential and energy facilities were hit, raising international concern over the use of advanced missile systems. Attacks on ports and commercial shipping in the Odesa region have further escalated the situation, disrupting trade and damaging civilian infrastructure critical to Ukraine’s economy and humanitarian supply chains.
Humanitarian officials say the assaults are pushing essential systems needed for winter survival to the brink. Prolonged power outages have forced families to rely on unsafe coping mechanisms, while emergency heating centers and safe spaces have been expanded to protect vulnerable populations in major cities such as Kyiv.
Displacement continues as civilians flee frontline areas under dangerous conditions, particularly in eastern regions, arriving in safer areas in urgent need of shelter, medical care, and winter assistance. With humanitarian access constrained and millions requiring aid, the United Nations and its partners are preparing a multi-billion-dollar appeal for 2026, while reiterating that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law and must end immediately.
