Introduction
Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to escalate in 2026, with no signs of abating. In the first 8 months of 2026 alone, 2,222 civilians were killed, already surpassing the total number of civilian deaths recorded in the whole of 2025.
Millions of people have limited or no access to basic services. Heavy fighting and attacks continue to endanger civilians and cause severe damage to:
- housing
- water and electricity supplies
- heating
- public infrastructure such as schools and health facilities
The EU has mobilised all available resources to enable the delivery of emergency assistance to Ukraine.
In February 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered the fastest-growing displacement crisis in the world. Millions of people were forced to leave Ukraine, while millions more were displaced within the country.
The majority of those fleeing Ukraine were women and children.
Currently, about 3.45 million people are believed to be internally displaced. Meanwhile, many others are still stranded in affected areas, either unwilling or unable to leave due to military action.
An estimated 10.8 million people need humanitarian assistance in 2026.
Needs inside the country
The situation is most severe along the frontlines in eastern, northeastern and southern Ukraine, and in the Russian-occupied territories.
Russia’s war on Ukraine has led to serious humanitarian challenges. Ensuring safe access for humanitarian organisations is essential to deliver relief items and enable safe evacuations from areas under attack.
Sustained hostilities along the frontline and relentless aerial attacks on urban areas continue to cause harm and suffering to civilians, triggering displacement towards safer areas. Extensive damage to housing leaves thousands of individuals with inadequate accommodation, particularly those in collective centres and closer to the frontline.
Repeated Russian attacks on infrastructures are leaving millions of Ukrainians without essential services, such as water, electricity, and heating, causing severe hardship in this harshest ever winter season.
The war continuously increases protection concerns, as civilians are exposed to:
- shelling
- armed violence
- mines
- family separation
- eviction
The safety risks for women and girls are extremely worrying, as is the situation of the most vulnerable groups (children, elderly people, persons with disabilities, and LGBTIQ+ people). At least 2.5 million people, primarily women and girls, require prevention and response services to gender-based violence.
Continuous attacks also impact negatively mental health care needs. Nearly 10 million people are at risk of or are already living with mental health conditions such as:
- stress
anxiety - depression
- post-traumatic stress disorder
The situation for children is especially worrying due to their exposure to conflict and violence, restricted access to safe education and limited opportunities for social interaction.
The repeated violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes are extremely alarming.
How are we helping?
The EU’s largest civil protection operation to date
To provide emergency assistance to Ukrainians, the European Commission is coordinating its largest ever operation under the EU civil protection mechanism.
So far, all 27 EU countries together with 6 participating states (Norway, Türkiye, North Macedonia, Iceland, Serbia and Moldova), have offered in-kind assistance ranging from medical supplies to shelter items, vehicles and energy equipment.
The EU has established logistical hubs in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to channel items to Ukraine more efficiently. 3,119 offers of in-kind assistance have been accepted by Ukraine since the start of the invasion to support various sectors.
Given the immense need for emergency equipment in Ukraine, the EU has deployed assistance from its rescEU stockpiles, including:
- power generators
- medical supplies
- temporary shelter units
- water treatment stations in response to the Kakhovka dam breach
- specialised equipment for public health risks such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats
Winter preparedness
In response to the widespread destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, winter preparedness remains the highest national priority, with the objective of ensuring the resilience of the energy system ahead of the 2026/27 winter season.
Support provided under the UCPM is based on priority needs that include protection of critical energy infrastructure and restoration of damaged electricity generation capacity among others.
Substantial energy assistance has been channelled to Ukraine through the UCPM, mobilised from rescEU strategic stockpiles, or donated by the private sector via its rescEU private donations scheme.
This includes:
- 11,611 power generators (4,139 from rescEU)
- 3,282 transformers
- 6 autotransformers
- thousands of electrical components and millions of efficient LED bulbs accepted by Ukraine
These supplies are helping to restore essential services such as hospitals, schools and water utilities, and are protecting civilians in the freezing conditions of the harsh winters.
In 2025, the EU civil protection mechanism also successfully relocated a full thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine, completing its largest-ever coordinated logistical operation to date. The equipment has been crucial to complete emergency repairs in several parts of the country.
To date, the EU support for Ukraine's energy sector has helped meet the needs of an estimated 9 million people.
Medical evacuations
The EU is also coordinating medical evacuations of Ukrainian patients in urgent need of treatment, transferring them to hospitals across Europe to receive specialized care. In September 2022, the EU opened a hub in Rzeszów, Poland, to facilitate these medical evacuations.
The EU Medevac Hub offers treatment to patients arriving from Ukraine before they are flown out to a hospital in another European country. So far, more than 5,350 patients have been transferred to 22 countries for treatment.
In April 2023, Ukraine joined the EU civil protection mechanism as a participating state. Established in 2001, the mechanism aims to strengthen the cooperation between the EU Member States and 10 participating states on civil protection to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to disasters.
EU humanitarian aid in Ukraine
The EU has been delivering humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since February 2014.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the European Commission has allocated over €1.4 billion for humanitarian aid programmes in Ukraine. This includes:
- €485 million in 2022
- €300 million in 2023
- €165 million in 2024
- €220 million in 2025
- €240 million in 2026
EU humanitarian funding is helping people inside Ukraine by providing them with:
- cash assistance to help cover basic needs
- protection assistance
- health care, including mental health and psychosocial support
- emergency shelter support
- food assistance
- water and sanitation
- essential household items
- education in emergencies
The EU pays particular attention to supporting the most at-risk households, especially in preparation for winter.
Recently, considering the growing energy crisis, EU humanitarian partners contributed to the establishment and operation of ‘invincibility points’ particularly across Kyiv, to provide for a much-needed lifeline.
Our partners are present across the country and mobilising assistance on the ground to assist the most vulnerable.
EU humanitarian offices in Ukraine play a key role in facilitating humanitarian coordination and information sharing among various organisations, including donors, authorities and humanitarian partners. Thanks to field presence in Kyiv and Dnipro, EU humanitarian experts are also carrying out missions in almost all affected regions of Ukraine to assess the needs and monitor EU-funded actions.
Timeline
- September 2026EU steps up its humanitarian support to Ukraine with a new €52.4 million package
The European Commission steps up its humanitarian support for Ukraine with a new €52.4 million package to help vulnerable prepare for the harsh winter.
- by September 2026300 requests for assistance from Ukraine via the UCPM
- August 20261st offer of Ukraine under the UCPM
For the first time ever, a 70-member team from the Ukrainian State Emergency Service joined the firefighters in France to battle the wildfires.
- February 2026EU allocates a further €75 million in humanitarian funding and €25 million to rescEU for the deployment of additional generators to Ukraine
- January 2026EU allocates €145 million to humanitarian needs in Ukraine
As Russia's invasion enters its fourth year, the EU allocates €145 million to humanitarian needs in Ukraine and an additional €8 million for humanitarian projects in Moldova.
- December 2025Delivery of Lithuanian power plant to Ukraine
The EU civil protection mechanism also successfully relocated a full thermal power plant from Lithuania to Ukraine, completing its largest-ever coordinated logistical operation to date.
- September 2025The EU allocates an extra €40 million in humanitarian funding
The additional €40 million in humanitarian funding aims to help Ukrainians endure a 4th winter of Russia's war of aggression. The funds will also support an emergency response in Ukraine, providing assistance to those newly displaced and affected by Russian attacks.
- April 2025EU allocates additional €40 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine
- January 2025EU announces €148 million humanitarian aid package during Commissioner visit to Ukraine
While Russia’s war of aggression continues to devastate Ukraine, the Commission is announcing €148 million in new humanitarian aid to support those affected by the war in Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova, out of which €140 million for Ukraine and €8 million for Moldova.
- 19 September 2024EU allocates a further €55 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and €5 million to Moldova
- 6 September 2024EU provides €40 million in humanitarian aid for winter preparedness in Ukraine
The Commission is boosting its humanitarian funding to vulnerable Ukrainians with an additional €40 million ahead of the approaching winter. Out of this, €35 million is allocated for humanitarian projects in Ukraine and €5 million for supporting Ukrainian refugees and their host communities in Moldova.
- 20 February 2024EU provides an additional €83 million in humanitarian aid to support people affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine
€75 million is allocated for humanitarian projects in Ukraine to provide emergency aid such as access to basic needs, shelter, clean water, healthcare and education. €8 million is allocated for humanitarian support of Ukrainian refugees and hosted communities in Moldova.
- 14 November 2023EU boosts humanitarian funding to Ukraine with €100 million for Ukraine and €10 million for Moldova
This new funding will help the EU’s humanitarian partners to provide essential services like cash assistance, food, water, shelter, health care, psychosocial support, and protection.
- 6 June 2023Nova Kakhovka dam breach
In response to the disastrous breach of the Nova Kakhovka dam, the EU mobilised immediate assistance to Ukraine via:
- its civil Protection Mechanism
- deployment of its rescEU reserves
- its humanitarian partners
- 20 April 2023Ukraine joins the EU civil protection mechanism
On 21 April, Ukraine became a participating state of the EU civil protection mechanism – the European solidarity framework that helps countries overwhelmed by a disaster.
- 20 April 2023The EU tops up its humanitarian aid to Ukraine with €55 million
This new humanitarian funding will notably focus on preparing for next winter to ensure an extra layer of protection to those in need.
- 3 February 2023New humanitarian funding €145 million for Ukraine
During the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv, the EU mobilised further €145 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
- 19 October 2022EU announces new rescEU reseve to provide emergency shelter to displaced Ukrainians
The EU has developed a new rescEU shelter reserve. It will be put into immediate use in Rivne, Bucha and Kharkiv regions to provide temporary shelter to internally displaced persons.
- 19 October 2022The EU announces additional €150 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine and €25 million for Moldova
The key priority is to provide winterised shelter in view of the expected freezing temperatures. Other priorities include education in emergencies, health, and protection assistance.
- 1 September 2022New EU Medevac hub in Rzeszów, Poland
The EU Medevac hub, financed through the EU civil protection mechanism, offers 24/7 nursing care, screening for diseases, vaccination and mental health support before patients are transferred to another European country. The medical evacuation scheme includes 2 medevac flights a week offered by Norway.
- 30 August 2022EU donates 5 million potassium iodide tablets to protect Ukrainians from potential radiation exposure
The EU will provide 5.5 million potassium iodide tablets via the EU civil protection mechanism for Ukraine, including 5 million from the rescEU emergency reserves and 500,000 from Austria.
- 9 June 2022The EU announces additional €205 million in humanitarian aid
During a visit to Ukraine, Commissioner Lenarčič announces new humanitarian funding bringing the total EU humanitarian aid in response to the war in Ukraine to €348 million.
- 19 April 2022Additional €50 million in humanitarian aid
The EU allocates a further €50 million to support the people affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine, with €45 million for humanitarian projects in Ukraine and €5 million for Moldova.
- 12 April 2022European Humanitarian Response Capacity
A humanitarian operation in Moldova sets up a warehouse in Chisinau for humanitarian partners and the delivery of over EU-owned 1,200 tents and 4,000 blankets for people displaced by the conflict. Another humanitarian warehouse is being set up in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.
- 29 March 2022New channel for private donations to Ukraine created by the European Commission
In kind donations will supply vital items such as medicines, vaccines, medical equipment, tents, beds and emergency blankets through this extension of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
- 13 March 2022EU's 1st medical evacuation operation in Ukraine crisis
The EU coordinated its first medical evacuation in the Ukraine crisis, helping to transfer 3 chronically ill Ukrainian children with their relatives from Poland to Italy.
- 11 March 2022Czechia activates the EU civil protection mechanism
Czechia requests assistance due to large influx of refugees, in the form of:
- emergency temporary shelters
- accommodations items
- camp manager experts
- 4 March 2022Establishing EU logistics hubs and mobilising rescEU reserves
The EU mobilises further assistance via the rescEU medical stockpiles based in Germany, Hungary and the Netherlands. Logistical hubs were established in Poland, Romania and Slovakia, to distribute required aid to Ukraine. The EU Civil protection team is operational on the ground in Poland, helping to coordinate the incoming aid as efficiently as possible.
- 2 March 2022More emergency assistance and Commissioner visits Poland
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, visit Poland to assess the situation on the ground and coordination needs for providing protection to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
- 28 February 2022€90 million in EU humanitarian funding for Ukraine
European Commission announces its 1st humanitarian aid funding of €90 million in response to the full-scale war to help civilians affected.
- 25 – 28 February 2022Slovakia, Moldova and Poland request assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Slovakia, Moldova and Poland request to better cope with the refugee inflows from Ukraine.
- 15 February 2022Ukraine requests assistance due to the threat of further escalation
Following a request from the Government of Ukraine for emergency assistance before the invasion, the EU started delivering essential supplies via the EU civil protection mechanism to support the civilian population.
This page was last updated on 12 October 2026