1,000 days of full-scale war in Ukraine: A call for sustained humanitarian aid amid relentless attacks

Anastasiia, a mother of two, at the site of a destroyed residential building in Dnipro, where her three neighbours lost their lives in a Russian attack on 25 October. The blast wave damaged her apartment. Anastasiia fears for her children’s safety and is concerned about keeping their home warm, with winter fast approaching.

Anastasiia at the site of a destroyed residential building in Dnipro, Ukraine. The blast wave damaged her apartment. Photo: OCHA/Viktoriia Andriievska

By Viktoriia Andriievska

Anastasiia, a mother of two, stands beside the ruins of a residential building – the site of a recent attack in eastern Ukraine’s Dnipro City. It is a haunting reminder of her loss: three of her neighbours lost their lives when the explosion’s blast damaged multiple homes, including her own.

“Every day of the past 1,000 days has been a struggle to protect my children,” Anastasiia says. “I simply want them to feel safe and warm and have a place to call home.”

With winter rapidly approaching, she worries about keeping her family warm amid relentless hostilities that disrupt basic services and affect daily life.

As the full-scale war now exceeds 1,000 days, hostilities across Ukraine continue to escalate, exacerbating humanitarian needs. Civilian infrastructure is severely affected, with people living in damaged or destroyed homes increasingly at risk as temperatures plummet.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, regularly visits front-line regions and communities. Most recently, in Dnipro, Nikopol and Zaporizhzhia, he again witnessed firsthand the stark realities people are now forced to endure.

Amid the rubble of residential buildings and the despair of people who lost their homes, Schmale called for continued support for the people of Ukraine: “We must not normalize the war in Ukraine. We must continue to support this country to the best of our abilities.”

Matthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine (left), and local authorities discuss the humanitarian response after the recent Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia City, which killed civilians and destroyed homes. Photo: OCHA/Viktoriia Andriievska

#Never-ending strain on lives and civilian infrastructure

Since hostilities escalated on 24 February 2022, the people of Ukraine have endured immense hardships. Between February 2022 and September 2024 , at least 12,000 civilians lost their lives, and nearly 27,000 were injured, including many children, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

Relentless attacks have damaged homes, hospitals, schools and critical civilian infrastructure, including energy and water systems, hampering essential services across the country.

An attack in early November damaged a geriatric nursing home in Sumy city, in northern Ukraine. Andrii Lohvyn, the Head of the Sumy branch of the Proliska Humanitarian Mission, and his team immediately arrived at the site of the attack, carefully following safety protocols to mitigate the risk of a double-tap strike on residents, rescue workers and aid teams helping those affected.

Andrii explained: "There were 221 older people in the centre, most of them with limited mobility. The local authorities needed to evacuate them, so we, together with State services and other organizations, arranged the transportation. Hospitals, schools, apartment buildings and private homes here are frequently targeted, which has a devastating impact on those who need protection the most. This is unacceptable."

A mother and child at a distribution point in a village in Donetsk Region, Ukraine

A mother and child at a distribution point in a village in Donetsk Region, where humanitarian workers are providing solid fuel briquettes and blankets to help residents stay warm through the winter. Photo: Angels of Salvation NGO

More than 3,400 schools and hospitals and 2 million homes in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. Large-scale systematic strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have significantly reduced electricity capacity, leaving millions of people nationwide facing frequent power outages. As winter approaches, with temperatures expected to drop to minus 20°C, many residents struggle to stay warm and safe in homes with leaking roofs, broken windows and damaged walls. The situation is particularly dire for front-line communities, where conditions are far from suitable for living due to hostilities. Winter brings only a new layer of hardship.

On 12 November, a drone struck an armoured vehicle operated by a humanitarian organization providing transport for residents in front-line communities where public transport is no longer available. No passengers or aid workers were injured, but the vehicle sustained severe damage. Photo: Angels of Salvation NGO

#Meeting urgent needs: Humanitarian work in areas close to the front line

Humanitarian organizations have intensified their efforts to address people’s urgent needs. They have assisted 7.2 million people so far this year, including 1.7 million forced to flee their homes and more than 850,000 people with disabilities. They provide food, clean water and shelter repair materials, as well as psychological and medical care.

Amid the continuous disruption of essential services, humanitarian actors are working with local authorities to support hospitals, schools and collective sites for displaced people.

Aid workers are doing everything they can to protect vulnerable groups, including women, children and older people. They provide psychosocial support and legal assistance to help people navigate the war’s devastating impacts.

#A Call for Continued Solidarity and Support

The Humanitarian Coordinator urged the international community to maintain its support for Ukraine: “As long as the war continues, humanitarian needs will persist. Winter brings new challenges, and it is critical that we work closely with the Government to support affected communities. The humanitarian community is determined to deliver, complementing the vital public services provided by local and State actors.”

Meanwhile, Anastasiia hopes that local authorities and aid workers will soon repair her building, meaning she and her family can stay in their home and regain a sense of stability.