UN Launches $277M Winter Aid for Ukraine Amid Conflict Surge

As the cold season brings heightened risks for Ukraine, the UN and partners is launching a comprehensive plan catering to the most vulnerable.

Years of war in Ukraine have left millions without reliable heating and with limited means to pay rising utility costs. On Thursday, the UN and humanitarian partners launched a $277 million appeal to support the most vulnerable people during the coming winter.

Amid escalating hostilities and continued strikes on critical infrastructure, Ukraine is once again bracing for a harsh winter.

As the cold season brings heightened risks—especially for people near the frontline, displaced persons living in collective sites, and other vulnerable populations—the Winter Response Plan aims to deliver essential multisectoral humanitarian assistance to over 1.7 million people from October through March.

Serving as a tool for advocacy, resource mobilisation, and coordination with government authorities, the plan targets the most vulnerable groups, including older people, persons with disabilities, and children.

“As temperatures drop, millions across Ukraine will struggle to keep warm—especially in communities near the front line and among vulnerable displaced people,” said Mathias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine.

Humanitarian organizations will help insulate and repair damaged homes, provide heaters, fuel, blankets, and warm clothing, prepare shelters for extreme cold, deliver cash for heating and utilities, and coordinate services in high-risk areas.

“Every winter puts additional strain on people already worn down by years of war,” Mr Schmale said.

Areas most affected by cold in winter are predominantly concentrated in northern and eastern Ukraine along the frontline.

People in these areas face harsh winter conditions, compounded by heightened vulnerability and severely damaged infrastructure resulting from ongoing conflict and persistent airstrikes.

Displaced people residing in collective sites are also among the most vulnerable during winter, as recent monitoring indicates nearly 60 percent of these sites continue to face winter-related gaps.