Damaged building and snow-covered children’s playground in Kiev (archive). Ukraine: amid new shelling and winter frosts, UN agencies increase support for the population Peace and security
New attacks on the territory of Ukraine led to civilian casualties and large-scale interruptions in the supply of heat and electricity in severe frost conditions.
“Minus 20 degrees. No heating. No electricity. Overnight, a new wave of strikes injured several people and left thousands of residents of high-rise buildings in the Dnieper, Kharkov and Kyiv without heat in the depths of winter. Even more people in Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Vinnytsia and other regions are facing power outages,” said Matthias Schmale, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country.
According to him, systematic attacks by Russian Federation forces on critical infrastructure are disrupting the daily lives of millions of Ukrainians and creating dangerous conditions, especially for the elderly and children. He recalled that international humanitarian law prohibits deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure necessary for the survival of the population.
Support for utilities
Amid attacks on energy infrastructure and extreme cold temperatures, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is expanding assistance to winter to support the operation of heating and water supply systems in Ukraine.
Since November 2025, the organization has delivered 106 medium and large power generators to support utilities. A further 149 generators of varying capacities are planned to be handed over in the coming weeks to bolster backup power sources in the hardest-hit areas.
This assistance will reduce service disruptions, speed up repairs and restore heat and water to hospitals, schools and homes more quickly.
“Children and their families are now living in constant survival mode,” said UNICEF representative Munir Mammadzadeh. “Across the country, vital services are strained, and parents are finding it increasingly difficult to keep their homes warm, prepare hot food and provide access to water. These generators will help teams on the ground keep systems running to keep the heat flowing, hospitals open and water flowing.”
Consequences of interruptions
Power outages in severe frosts lead to rupture of water and heating pipes, which makes buildings practically uninhabitable. At a temperature of minus 20 degrees at home without heating, this is not just discomfort, but a real threat to life and health.
For children, prolonged exposure to the cold increases the risk of hypothermia and aggravates respiratory diseases. Darkness and cold also increase stress and fear.
The supply of generators is part of UNICEF’s large-scale winter program, which has already supported 1.2 million people through the provision of backup power supplies and the repair of water and heating systems. In addition, almost 187 thousand people, including 88 thousand children, received cash assistance.