Five years of war, a deepening humanitarian crisis

February 2026 marked the start of the fifth year of full-scale war in Ukraine. Over the winter, civilian casualties increased and humanitarian needs escalated. As the war continues and poverty deepens, official figures show that 10.8 million people in Ukraine currently require humanitarian assistance, with nearly 40% facing extreme or catastrophic conditions.

Total civilian casualties in 2025 reached at least 2,526 killed and 12,162 injured. More than 3.7 million people are internally displaced, almost 6 million are refugees, including more than 2.5 million displaced children.

The conflict has left vast areas completely uninhabitable. Livelihoods have been shattered by displacement, destroyed businesses and the collapse of agricultural production. Many families are forced to reduce meals or rely solely on aid distributions.

Compounding the crisis, Ukraine endured this year its harshest winter in a decade with prolonged sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall. Systematic attacks on energy infrastructure have triggered rolling blackouts and heating interruptions nationwide, preventing families from safely returning home. Older people, children and displaced populations are disproportionately at risk, with many shelters lacking adequate winterisation provisions, leaving vulnerable groups exposed to life-threatening cold. Hostile attacks on humanitarian warehouses and transportation, and the growing burden on communities hosting evacuees, add further strain.

Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis is complex: survival needs – warmth, shelter, safety and food – are deeply intertwined with systemic vulnerabilities. Sustained humanitarian support is essential to prevent further deterioration and to uphold the dignity of affected populations.

Caritas activities

Ukraine faces a complex and overlapping set of challenges: humanitarian, recovery, stabilisation and even development needs all at once. The two national Caritas organisations — Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes Ukraine — continued to lead the global Caritas confederation’s response, operating nationwide through one of the largest humanitarian networks inside the country. Since 2022, they have supported more than six million people adapt to a daily reality of diminishing livelihoods and deteriorating community stability. Yet, needs continue to outpace resources, with dependence on external support having increased by 15–20 percent over the past year, showing that many across Ukraine are reaching the limits of their resilience.

Caritas Ukraine operates through 51 local Caritas organisations covering all regions, supported by up to 400 active parish hubs, 2,568 employees and over 12,000 registered volunteers since 2022. In 2025, its activities aimed to comprehensively address both the immediate and long-term humanitarian consequences of the war through multisectoral support to the frontline and de-occupied territories, including civilian evacuation, food security, the restoration of housing and energy infrastructure and access to water. Key priorities also include the digitalisation of assistance through cash payments, advocacy for the social rights of victims at the state level and the implementation of innovative projects.

Caritas-Spes Ukraine‘s main objective is to restore safe and dignified living conditions for people in need, with a particular focus on areas with little or no humanitarian presence — especially frontline communities still exposed to danger and remote villages with restricted access to support. Operating across 54 aid centres covering 23 regions and more than 15,000 settlements, Caritas-Spes has reached 127,333 people through its national humanitarian programmes since the beginning of 2025. Beyond emergency relief, Caritas-Spes provides comprehensive psychosocial support through individual and group counselling, art therapy and educational activities for children, adults and veterans, helping people build resilience, adapt to new living conditions and find safe spaces for recovery. Veterans’ rehabilitation and social reintegration are a particular focus. Caritas-Spes also ensures that displaced and affected populations have access to basic health essentials through the distribution of hygiene kits.