The European Commission has announced €153 million in emergency humanitarian aid to support Ukraine and refugee-hosting Moldova amid severe winter conditions and ongoing Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. An initial €145 million will be directed to Ukraine to provide protection assistance, shelter, food, cash aid, psychosocial support, and access to water and healthcare. A further €8 million will support Moldova in hosting Ukrainian refugees who have fled the conflict.
After nearly four years of full-scale war and more than a decade of prior hostilities, Ukraine continues to face immense civilian suffering, including daily casualties, mass displacement, and widespread infrastructure destruction. With Russian attacks targeting critical energy infrastructure, millions are exposed to freezing temperatures, exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Alongside financial aid, the EU is reinforcing emergency energy support. This month, 447 power generators worth €3.7 million have been delivered to restore electricity to hospitals, shelters, and other essential services, while an additional 500 generators are being deployed from the EU’s rescEU strategic reserves to maintain critical operations. Commissioner Hadja Lahbib emphasized that this support aims to provide shelter, warmth, and hope to affected communities, highlighting the EU’s sustained commitment to humanitarian relief based strictly on needs on the ground.
The EU has been providing humanitarian assistance in Ukraine since the conflict began in 2014, with substantial increases following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Since that time, the Commission has allocated over €1.4 billion in aid for Ukraine and Moldova. This aid is delivered through partnerships with UN agencies, international organizations, and NGOs, with a particular focus on reaching hard-to-access areas near the eastern and southern frontlines.
Winterization and energy assistance have been a critical component of EU relief efforts. The 2025-2026 campaign marked the largest volume of energy-related support under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), including dismantling and delivering the Vilnius Thermal Power Plant—the largest energy-related donation ever coordinated by the Mechanism. Since 2022, millions of energy items, including power generators, transformers, and energy-efficient LED units, have been sent to Ukraine, providing electricity to over 9 million people.
Beyond immediate humanitarian aid, the EU has supported Ukraine’s energy security, exporting electricity at maximum capacity and providing at least €3 billion for energy infrastructure since the invasion. In total, EU assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict amounts to €193.3 billion, combining humanitarian, energy, and reconstruction support.
