Four years into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the human toll on women and girls has been devastating. More than 5,000 have been killed and 14,000 injured, with 2025 marking the deadliest year yet, though the true figures are likely higher. The war has been compounded by energy attacks that disrupt daily life, and now a third crisis has emerged: severe cuts in funding for women-led and women’s rights organizations, which provide vital protection, support, and services to women and girls across the country.
A recent UN Women report highlights the scale of this funding crisis and its direct impact on vulnerable populations. One in three women’s rights and women-led organizations warn they may only survive six months or less under current funding levels. Due to reductions in 2025 and 2026, these organizations are projected to lose at least USD 52.9 million by the end of the year. As a result, life-saving services for at least 63,000 women and girls could be suspended, disproportionately affecting those already most at risk: women and girls in frontline and rural areas, older women, women-headed households, and women and girls with disabilities.
The challenges are further compounded by Ukraine’s nationwide energy crisis and ongoing attacks. Women-led organizations, while continuing their essential work, face limitations in operational capacity, access to affected populations, and staff well-being due to electricity, heating, and water shortages. Despite these obstacles, they remain the first line of support for women and girls in crisis, providing protection, dignity, and hope.
UN Women emphasizes that sustained funding is critical to ensure these organizations can continue delivering essential services, support gender-responsive recovery, and contribute to building a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Without urgent intervention, the combined effects of war, energy instability, and funding cuts threaten to deepen the vulnerability of women and girls across the country.
