UNICEF appeals for support for children and families in Ukraine for winter

KYIV, 24 July 2026—Children and families in Ukraine continue to be impacted by attacks, with increased intensity in recent months. Energy and heating systems, especially in frontline regions, are also severely weakened. In Dnipro and Donetsk regions, extensive damage to water supply systems has disrupted access to water for 12,000 people. Across Ukraine, 60 per cent of households surveyed reported being directly affected by the war, which includes economic shocks.  

These ongoing challenges and humanitarian needs are at risk of becoming more severe when temperatures start to drop, and communities face the threat of another bleak winter.

"As children and families in Ukraine endure a fifth year of full-scale war, they face the looming threat of another winter without heating, power, water, and essential social services, amid continued deadly attacks," said Anne-Claire Dufay, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine. "Preparedness for our winter response is already underway. We are working with local partners to ensure families and communities can withstand these shocks."  

UNICEF is already pre-positioning life-saving supplies, installing solar systems in health facilities, and expanding partnerships to ensure services for the most vulnerable children and families.  

To meet the needs of 3 million people including 540,000 children in Ukraine, UNICEF requires US$160.5 million for its 2026–2027 winter response, which includes: 

• Cash assistance for 225,000 people including 45,000 children
• District heating system repairs to provide heating for 3 million people, including 540,000 children
• School energy and heating grants to ensure in-person learning for 375,000 students
• Energy resilience for health facilities to ensure access to healthcare for 230,000 people, including 41,400 children
• Child protection services for more than 10,000 at-risk children

UNICEF's winter response for 2026-2027 builds on investments in previous years, further strengthening the resilience of critical systems and services while aiming to reach more children and families with life-saving support, both in frontline areas and across the country.

The plan contributes to the United Nations and humanitarian partners 2026-2027 Winter Response Plan for Ukraine, which aims to support more than 2.1 million people.

The 2025-2026 winter season was the most difficult for children since the start of the full-scale war, with extreme sub-zero temperatures, prolonged blackouts, and strikes impacting energy infrastructure and communities. UNICEF responded at scale, mobilizing US$104.7 million to reach more than 1.5 million people, including over 255,000 children, with vital support such as cash assistance for families in frontline regions, district heating repairs, and generators for water, heating and healthcare facilities.  

UNICEF is grateful to the European Union, the Governments of Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and the UNICEF family of National Committees who are already supporting the 2026-2027 winter response for children and families in Ukraine. Full funding for the plan is urgently needed to ensure timely and life-saving support ahead of and during the freezing winter months.  

Note to editors: UNICEF's winter response plan for Ukraine in 2026-2027 is available here.