The United Nations refugee agency warned Friday, Oct. 30, that millions of people in Ukraine and three other war-affected countries face a potentially dangerous winter, as Russia’s continuing attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure threaten to leave vulnerable families without adequate heating and electricity.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched an emergency appeal for at least $50 million to assist nine million people across Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan, where rising energy costs, shortages of heating fuel and shrinking humanitarian funding are worsening conditions ahead of winter.
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For Ukraine, entering its fifth winter since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the agency warned that temperatures could plunge to minus 20°C (minus 4°F), while Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure threaten further electricity outages and interruptions to heating.
“Resources are scarce and costs are spiralling just as winter looms in the northern hemisphere,” said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR’s director of external relations.
“Millions in these fragile, war-affected countries risk facing the elements without enough protection from the cold,” she added. “We need to shield them immediately.”
The appeal comes as Ukraine faces renewed Russian missile and drone attacks, increasing pressure on an already damaged energy system just weeks before the coldest months of the year.
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Russia’s strikes deepen Ukraine’s winter emergency
In a separate briefing on Oct. 27, UNHCR warned that intensified Russian strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure risk prolonged power outages, leaving millions of civilians without electricity, heating and reliable access to water.
The agency said attacks were continuing both day and night, damaging civilian and humanitarian facilities and forcing additional people to flee their homes.
Ukraine’s humanitarian needs remain enormous. According to UNHCR’s country assessment, approximately 3.7 million people are internally displaced, while more than 5.9 million Ukrainian refugees remain abroad, primarily in Europe.
An estimated 10.8 million people inside Ukraine require humanitarian assistance and protection in 2026.
Years of bombardment have also caused extensive damage to homes. UNHCR estimates that nearly three million Ukrainian homes had been damaged or destroyed by the end of 2025, leaving many families with limited resources to repair their properties or prepare for another winter.
UNHCR seeks $358 million for Ukraine’s winter needs
The latest global appeal follows a separate Ukraine-specific humanitarian winter plan launched in July.
Under the 2026–2027 Winter Response Plan, UN agencies and humanitarian partners are seeking $358.4 million to assist 2.1 million vulnerable people across Ukraine.
The plan prioritizes people in frontline communities, those displaced by fighting and households particularly exposed to interruptions in heating, electricity and water supplies.
The UN also announced a $50 million allocation through the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund to address urgent funding gaps.
“Endurance alone cannot heat a home, restore electricity or repair the damage caused by the ongoing war,” Matthias Schmale, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, said when the plan was launched.
UNHCR’s winter assistance includes emergency cash payments, shelter repairs, insulation materials and support for heating needs.