UN: winter aid for 2.1 million Ukrainians, possible flash appeal for Kyiv

Türk: attacks on civilians at their highest since 2024

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said he is extremely concerned about the worsening human rights situation in Ukraine. Commenting at the request of Ukrinform’s correspondent in New York on the findings of an independent international UN commission, he said the number of attacks on civilians has grown and is probably now at its highest since 2024.

“The civilian population is suffering enormously, especially from drone attacks,” Türk said, as quoted by Ukrinform. According to him, Russian strikes are no longer limited to the energy system: “now we also see attacks on railway tracks and even supermarkets”.

Türk called the escalation “clearly illogical” and was pessimistic about the coming months. “I fear the worst for civilians in Ukraine in the coming weeks and months, because unfortunately I see no change in this trend,” he said. The High Commissioner stressed that human rights must be an integral part of any ceasefire and future peace talks, adding that he often has the impression there is no empathy for the plight of Ukraine’s civilians.

Earlier the independent international UN commission concluded that Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The winter aid plan

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale said the UN plans to provide assistance to 2.1 million people between 26 October 2026 and March 2027. They include almost 430,000 internally displaced people and 1.7 million people who have not left their homes.

The aid will include heating support, home repairs, medical services, protection, food and cash assistance. It also covers winter costs for vulnerable households and keeping heating, power, water and sanitation systems running. “About 84% of the planned assistance will be concentrated within 50 kilometres of the front line,” Schmale said.

In addition, in eight cities north of Kyiv, as well as in Odesa and Dnipro, the UN will complement the government’s response, working with the State Emergency Service, the Ukrainian Red Cross and two other partners. In the first eight months of this year 3.5 million Ukrainians received help from humanitarian organisations.

A separate appeal for Kyiv

Schmale did not rule out a separate Flash Appeal for the capital. “In my view, Kyiv as the capital is of special importance. We may have to launch a so-called flash appeal to cover additional specific needs of the city,” he said.

A Flash Appeal is an official humanitarian response plan and a request for urgent donor funding that international organisations launch after a large-scale crisis begins. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia used more than 100 ballistic missiles against Kyiv and Kyiv region in two weeks.

Economic warfare

The UN coordinator stressed that Russia is not only destroying energy and other infrastructure but is also waging economic war against Ukraine, attacking warehouses and supermarket chains and blocking grain exports. According to Schmale, dealing with these consequences goes beyond the capacity of humanitarian organisations, so it is vital to agree budget support mechanisms with member states and international financial institutions so that public services and the economy keep working.