It has been almost three years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia on 24 February 2021. This invasion has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure, causing significant strain on the economy.
The UN has reported over 28,000 civilian casualties and 10,000 deaths, but acknowledges that the actual numbers are likely higher.
As the conflict continues and the front lines shift, it is estimated that over 14 million Ukrainians are in need of humanitarian aid. This crisis has led to the largest refugee crisis since World War II, with 6.3 million refugees fleeing to neighboring countries and 3.7 million people being internally displaced.
This means that nearly one-third of the population has been forced to leave their homes, including over half of all Ukrainian children. The conflict has also resulted in the loss of 30% of jobs and has led to tax increases and funding shortages, as well as frequent power outages due to attacks on energy infrastructure.
Throughout the conflict, the UN has been at the forefront of relief efforts, working closely with Ukrainian authorities, local organizations, and volunteers to ensure that aid reaches those in need, especially in frontline communities.
In all parts of the country, emergency assistance is provided following attacks. UN agencies are involved in demining, debris removal, providing essential services, finding shelter for displaced people, and providing healthcare, including mental health and psycho-social support. In 2024 alone, the World Food Programme (WFP) assisted 1.6 million Ukrainians each month by providing food and cash aid, demining agricultural land, and supporting feeding programs in schools and other institutions. The UN’s humanitarian office also provided health-related assistance to 2.6 million people in 2024.
Despite ongoing bombings, Ukraine is in the process of rebuilding. There are numerous projects in progress focusing on the construction and repair of schools, kindergartens, hospitals, social housing, heating and water systems, and other social infrastructure.
Efforts to reconstruct damaged energy infrastructure have not been hindered by ongoing attacks. UN agencies and partners are providing over 500 MW of critical power generation and solar capacity to ensure access to electricity, heating, and water.
There is a strong focus on decentralization to reduce reliance on electricity from large, centralized power stations and decrease vulnerability to blackouts in the event of an airstrike. While the destruction of a large power plant could affect a wide area and cut off tens of thousands of people from the grid, a decentralized system with numerous small, renewable plants is more resilient to attacks. Solar panels damaged in bombings can be replaced within a day. The UN Development Programme is supporting this approach by assisting with contract negotiations and providing training in solar panel installation.
Despite the large number of people who have left the country, many who have stayed are determined to remain, according to senior UN officials. Matthias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, believes that the population’s resilience throughout the conflict is a remarkable sign of their strength.
Speaking to UN News, Mr. Schmale expressed hope that the UN’s commitment to supporting Ukrainians for as long as necessary would give them hope for a more dignified future. “I see people starting to rebuild as soon as possible, whether it’s their businesses, homes, or lives. The future begins as soon as the sirens stop. People don’t want to leave.”
The strength of the population is also praised by Kenan Madi, Chief of Field Operations at UNICEF Ukraine. “Despite the challenges and everything they are going through, they all want to stay in their areas, in their villages. They don’t want to leave,” he said in a recent interview with UN News. “No one is dreaming of leaving. It’s the opposite. Everyone is dreaming of staying. This gives me confidence that when this war ends, the Ukrainian people will immediately begin rebuilding in a better way and building back better.”
The characterization of Ukrainians as a resilient people goes beyond anecdotal evidence: a large-scale study in 2024, backed by the UN and based on in-depth interviews with over 7,000 respondents in all territories under government control, found that Ukrainians continue to demonstrate a strong sense of national identity and belonging to their homeland. The findings highlight the power of Ukraine’s national identity as a unifying force in the face of ongoing war.
However, the challenges facing the country are immense and extremely costly. The total cost of reconstruction and recovery is estimated to be $411 billion, according to a joint assessment by the Ukrainian government, World Bank, European Commission, and the UN.
With winter temperatures dropping below freezing, the UN’s humanitarian winter response plan aims to address emergency needs, including providing solid fuel, cash assistance, and repairing water systems. To fully implement these efforts by March 2025, $500 million is needed.
In the coming days, UN humanitarian officials will travel to Ukraine to assess the current situation before launching a new humanitarian appeal. Additionally, a broader humanitarian appeal for $2.2 billion is being prepared for 2025 to assist an estimated 12.7 million people.