Four years of full-scale war in Ukraine
Millions of people, including 73-year-old Liudmyla, have been displaced.
© UNHCR/Nikola Ivanovski
Four years of full-scale war in Ukraine
Millions of people, including 73-year-old Liudmyla, have been displaced.
© UNHCR/Nikola Ivanovski
The war in Ukraine has forced some 5.8 million refugees to flee the country and over 3.7 million more people are internally displaced in Ukraine due to fighting.
Emergency shelter
to provide safety for those fleeing or left with damaged homes
Relief items and emergency payments
for the most vulnerable individuals, including winter relief and blankets
Community support
to help displaced people access social services and psychological support
What’s happening in Ukraine?
After 4 years of full-scale war in Ukraine, the human cost of the war continues to mount. Following the Russian invasion, the country has seen wave after wave of relentless attacks, killing and injuring civilians while devastating the homes and energy infrastructure they depend on. Ukrainian officials say the national power grid is now under greater pressure than at any point since the nationwide blackout of November 2022. Compounding the crisis, weather conditions remain severe with temperatures across the country expected to plunge below –20°c again over the coming weeks.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced many people to flee their homes. As the war continues, humanitarian needs remain high both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries hosting refugees from Ukraine. More than 5.8 million refugees from Ukraine have now fled the country to seek safety. In addition, over 3.7 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine’s borders.
Despite the ongoing war, UNHCR is staying and delivering across Ukraine and in neighbouring countries to support fleeing civilians. Urgent needs include shelter, relief items such as blankets, and specialist protection – all of which rely on voluntary donations.
How long has UNHCR been in Ukraine?
UNHCR has been working in Ukraine since 1994 and established a country office the following year in 1995, supporting refugees and asylum-seekers, stateless people, and internally displaced and other conflict-affected persons.
How has conflict in recent years led to displacement in Ukraine?
Since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the temporary occupation of Crimea in 2014, UNHCR has provided protection and humanitarian assistance on both sides of the contact line. This includes support for internally displaced people, refugees and stateless people in the country.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced millions more people in Ukraine to flee their homes. An additional 3.7 million people have been displaced within Ukraine’s borders.
UNHCR and its teams work in both Government controlled and non-Government controlled areas, and in neighbouring countries, delivering humanitarian assistance such as emergency shelter and psychological support to people in need.
What support does UNHCR deliver?
Winter in Ukraine is harsh and early interventions are essential to ensure warm, safe and dignified living conditions for affected people.
UNHCR is providing rental support, to help families find warm, safe and dignified accommodations; scaling up shelter repairs, ensuring proper insulation is installed in homes and collective sites to battle freezing temperatures. UNHCR is on the ground distributing heating appliances, generators, winter kits to make shelters warmer, winter clothing and is providing vital cash assistance for rent and utilities.
This winter, UNHCR requires $115 million to provide financial assistance, shelter, and energy aid to help people stay warm. By the end of November 2025, around 176,000 people had received financial assistance for winter-specific needs, with priority given to vulnerable, war-affected people living near frontline and border areas.
From January to November 2025, UNHCR and its partners delivered 1.14 million services such as shelter and healthcare and provided financial assistance to more than 215,000 people, enabling them to meet essential needs such as accommodation, food, medicines, clothing and heating costs.
Throughout the winter months, UNHCR staff are working tirelessly to provide urgent aid and humanitarian support to refugees and displaced people to help them survive the harsh conditions.
Where are refugees from Ukraine fleeing to?
Neighbouring countries such as Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia have all accepted refugees from Ukraine and are providing refuge, supported by UNHCR teams. More than 6.9 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded globally.
How can I learn more about the situation in Ukraine?
To access the latest data and reports on UNHCR’s vital work in Ukraine, please visit the Ukraine Operations portal.
To find out more about UNHCR’s work in Ukraine, please visit UNHCR Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has resulted in the biggest and fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War.
“We are glad that we could get some cash support from United Nations. We used the money to buy wood for the stove, so we can now cook and heat our house.”
Anzhela, 24, and Liliya, 4, both received warm clothes and blankets from the UNHCR partner Humanitarian Mission Proliska in Sloviansk, Donetsk oblast. Their large family (seven people) lost their two houses due to intense fighting and air raids in the village. The family now relies on support from UNHCR to survive due to the lack of job opportunities. To support UNHCR’s work, please donate today.
©UNHCR/
“We are glad that we could get some cash support from United Nations. We used the money to buy wood for the stove, so we can now cook and heat our house.”
Anzhela, 24, and Liliya, 4, both received warm clothes and blankets from the UNHCR partner Humanitarian Mission Proliska in Sloviansk, Donetsk oblast. Their large family (seven people) lost their two houses due to intense fighting and air raids in the village. The family now relies on support from UNHCR to survive due to the lack of job opportunities. To support UNHCR’s work, please donate today.
©UNHCR/