UN High Commissioner for Refugees Urges Increased Support for Ukraine Ahead of Harsh Winter

UNHCR’s comprehensive winter response plan is part of a broader UN humanitarian appeal aimed at providing necessary aid before the cold arrives.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has called on the international community to intensify support for Ukraine as the third winter since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion approaches.

Grandi traveled to Ukraine this week for the fifth time since February 2022, expressing strong solidarity with the people enduring the ongoing war and advocating for the protection of all civilians affected by the conflict. His visit included a stop at the Okhmatdyt Pediatric Hospital and areas in Kyiv heavily damaged by the deadly attacks on July 8. In Kharkiv, he listened to harrowing accounts from people evacuated during the recent May offensive.

After meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and visiting a heavily bombarded power plant, Grandi handed over ten generators to local authorities in Kharkiv to help maintain critical services. The war has severely damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with close to 70 percent of the country's energy generation capacity depleted. This disruption in heating and water supply is already affecting millions daily and could become catastrophic as winter sets in.

“It’s devastating to see that the war – with all its senseless destruction – is continuing relentlessly,” Grandi said. “Each time I'm in Ukraine, I’m struck by the resilience and determination of people. But our support is critical to help sustain their strength, including ensuring they are safe and warm in the gruelling winter ahead, and to keep their hopes alive for a better future.”

In preparation for the harsh winter, UNHCR has committed an initial $100 million to aid the people of Ukraine. This contribution will support 600,000 of the most vulnerable displaced and war-affected individuals in Ukraine with cash assistance. However, with growing humanitarian needs, further support is essential. UNHCR’s comprehensive winter response plan is part of a broader UN humanitarian appeal aimed at providing necessary aid before the cold arrives.