Help Ukrainian kids and families survive winter

Last winter in Ukraine was extremely harsh, with temperatures dropping to as low as −20°C. As attacks on critical civilian infrastructure continue, vulnerable groups—including older persons, persons with disabilities, and families with children—face ongoing uncertainty in the upcoming cold season. In response, the Ukrainian Red Cross continues its efforts to help communities prepare for winter and ensure access to essential services and basic needs for those most at risk.

Below are some recent highlights:

• In the town of Kamin-Kashyrskyi, the local Ukrainian Red Cross branch delivered 20 oil heaters to shelters in secondary schools, helping ensure safe and adequate conditions for children staying in school shelters during the cold season.

• With support from the Poltava regional branch, renovation works were completed at the protective shelter of the “Chervona Shapochka” kindergarten in Lubny. The upgraded space now provides a safe environment for children and staff during air raid alerts.

• In Pervomaisk, the Ukrainian Red Cross provided warm blankets and flashlights to a local school for children with special educational needs. These items will support children during sheltering and power outages.

• Four lyceums in the Mohyliv-Podilskyi district (Vinnytsia region) received signal repeaters to strengthen mobile and internet connectivity. Equipped with backup power, the systems enable students and teachers to remain connected and continue learning during outages or while sheltering.

• In Sumy region, the Ukrainian Red Cross delivered blankets, mattresses, flashlights, and electric ceramic heaters to a vocational college shelter in Konotop, which can accommodate up to 510 people.

• In Izmail, a psychosocial support kit for shelters was provided to the Odesa Regional Center for Medical Rehabilitation and Palliative Care for Children. The kit helps create a safe and supportive environment where children can reduce stress and receive emotional support, even in extremely difficult circumstances.

• Ensuring access to safe drinking water in healthcare facilities remains a key priority. Through the “Access to Safe Water for the Population” project, a modern mobile water purification system was delivered to the Perinatal Center in Zaporizhzhia.

These are just a few examples of the Ukrainian Red Cross’s ongoing efforts to protect children and uphold their right to a safe and dignified childhood.

In addition, our teams continue to conduct mine risk awareness sessions and provide psychosocial support across Ukraine. As of the publication date of this report, more than 886,000 children have participated in psychosocial support activities since the beginning of 2022.

Thank you for standing with us and making this vital support possible.