UN warns Russian attacks and winter hardship could displace more Ukrainians

As winter approaches, Ukraine faces dire challenges with essential services declining due to ongoing conflict. (Pic Credit: Reuters)

Millions of Ukrainians are preparing for another difficult winter as attacks on essential infrastructure, damaged homes and escalating living costs increase the risk of further displacement, the United Nations migration agency warned on Friday.With temperatures expected to drop in the coming months, families across the war-torn country are struggling to ensure access to dependable heating, electricity and water after years of conflict, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.The warning comes after Russian missiles and drones targeted Ukrainian cities this week, amid concerns that the United States could reduce intelligence sharing and military assistance to Kyiv, according to the Reuters.“Winter is fast approaching in Ukraine, and for many Ukrainians, the months ahead could be the most difficult since the full-scale war began,” Dejan Keserovic, IOM deputy chief of mission in Ukraine, told reporters in Geneva via a video link from Kyiv.

Millions remain displaced as winter approaches

According to the IOM’s latest figures, nearly 3.6 million people remain internally displaced within Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. An estimated 3.8 million people have returned to their homes after being displaced, with many finding their properties damaged or partially destroyed.The agency said people who returned home within the past three months were the most likely to express an intention to leave again, highlighting growing anxiety over deteriorating living conditions.Meanwhile, European countries, including Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic, are currently hosting approximately six million Ukrainian refugees.Keserovic said host countries were expected to prepare for the possibility of another influx of Ukrainians if conditions in their homeland worsened.

Russian attacks strain electricity, heating and water supplies

Repeated Russian strikes on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure have placed Ukraine’s electricity, heating and water networks under increasing pressure, the IOM said.Missile and drone attacks have also continued to kill and injure civilians across the country, adding to the challenges faced by communities already struggling with the effects of prolonged warfare.Access to reliable water supplies has emerged as a particular concern because water infrastructure depends heavily on electricity to function.The IOM said it had installed 31 solar power stations to help keep water systems operational in different parts of Ukraine. However, the agency cautioned that the scale of humanitarian needs remained substantial.

Funding shortfall threatens winter relief efforts

The UN agency also warned that a shortage of funding could undermine preparations for the approaching winter.Less than 7% of the IOM’s Ukraine response plan for 2026 had received funding so far, leaving a significant gap between available resources and the assistance required.The agency stressed the urgent need for additional financial support to improve home insulation and help households withstand freezing temperatures.With damaged housing, unreliable utilities and rising living costs compounding the effects of the war, humanitarian agencies face mounting pressure to ensure vulnerable families can remain safe and warm during the coming months.