As Ukraine endures its harshest winter in a decade, the UK is providing vital humanitarian assistance, delivering generators, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies to support vulnerable civilians. In partnership with UNICEF and Ukrainian energy and water providers, the UK is helping restore heating and water services to communities severely affected by Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.
Temperatures in Ukraine have dropped below -20°C, leaving over a million people at risk from the energy crisis. The UK’s recent deliveries of generators aim to ensure continuity of power for homes, schools, and hospitals, particularly as Russian missile attacks continue to target energy facilities, including a recent strike that launched 70 missiles in a single night. Many residents, including the elderly, have been left without heat or running water, and disruptions have affected medical services and in-person education.
This week, 28 UK-funded generators were dispatched to support water and heating companies, adding to 21 generators delivered in December 2025. These generators have already restored essential services to hundreds of thousands of residents, such as the rapid restoration of water supply to 730,000 people in Zaporizhzhia City and Oblast. Additional generators are expected to arrive over the coming week to ensure uninterrupted utility services in priority areas.
Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty emphasized that Russia’s attacks will not break the resolve of Ukrainians, and the UK remains committed to providing lifesaving aid. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the UK has delivered over £1 billion in humanitarian and energy support, helping maintain heat, electricity, and water for vulnerable populations during the brutal winter.
Rapid assistance has reached schools, hospitals, and communities across Ukraine. In Mykolaiv Oblast, UK support enabled the installation of independent heating systems in two schools, allowing in-person education for 780 students. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, new water units and heating system repairs are improving service resilience for tens of thousands of residents. In Kherson City, UK-backed repairs restored heating for thousands following Russian attacks. Hygiene kits and thermal insulation materials have also been distributed to support residents in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts, while UNICEF water trucks delivered millions of liters of water to cities including Odesa and Kherson.
The UK has committed over £577 million in humanitarian aid since the invasion and an additional £470 million for energy sector repair, protection, and reconstruction, including contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. Alongside this humanitarian and energy support, the UK is providing £3 billion annually in military aid, with a total of £4.5 billion in combined military support this year.
Despite the ongoing international support, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine remains critical. Continued attacks and infrastructure damage highlight the urgent need for a lasting peace. The UK continues to urge meaningful negotiations in Abu Dhabi to end the suffering of Ukrainian civilians and restore essential services across the country.
