As attacks on energy infrastructure continue, families in Ukraine are facing a deepening crisis this winter, resorting to desperate measures to stay warm. According to UNICEF Country Representative Munir Mammadzade, some families “have actually reverted to stuffing even soft toys to their windows to block some of the freezing cold.”
Escalating Emergency
The situation follows reported attacks on power infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv oblasts, leaving residential areas without electricity and heating. Mr. Mammadzade described the resulting cold as a “national-scale emergency…on top of the war.” With temperatures already at -15°C (5°F) in Kyiv, and colder weather expected next week, millions of families are reportedly living without essential services.
The impact is particularly acute for children, who UNICEF reports are now living with “thoughts of survival and not childhood.” The agency has documented an 11 per cent increase in verified child casualties during 2025 compared to the previous year.
Shifting Humanitarian Needs
Humanitarian efforts are adapting to address the changing needs of civilians. While aid was previously focused on frontline areas, the strikes on urban infrastructure have created a more complex situation for those living in cities. Kyiv resident Svitlana, a mother of a three-year-old daughter named Adina, has been without heating or electricity for over three days, and is navigating ten flights of stairs in the dark to reach a warming tent provided by Ukraine’s State Emergency Services.
Jaime Wah of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) noted that while power has been restored relatively quickly in Kharkiv and Odesa following previous attacks, the situation in Kyiv appears more challenging, with sustained outages affecting larger populations.
UNICEF is supporting communal tents where people can warm up, access food, charge devices, and receive psychological support. The agency warns that the physical and mental impacts of living in the cold and dark can intensify fear and stress, and exacerbate existing health conditions, especially for newborns and infants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current temperature in Kyiv?
The temperature in Kyiv was -15°C (5°F) on Friday, and officials warn that next week could be even colder.
What is UNICEF doing to help?
UNICEF is supporting large communal tents where vulnerable people can get warm, find food, charge devices, and access psychological support.
What challenges are aid organizations facing?
Aid organizations are facing a more complicated set of needs due to strikes on urban infrastructure, affecting larger populations and requiring sustained support.
How will the ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure impact the long-term well-being of its citizens?
