In Kharkiv, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi urged the international community to help people of Ukraine prepare for third wartime winter

Kharkiv, Ukraine – The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, announced a new financial contribution of $100 million to support displaced and war-affected people in Ukraine as they prepare for the third winter since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. The High Commissioner expressed UNHCR’s pledge during opening remarks at a meeting on the energy situation in Kharkiv, chaired by the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration Oleh Syniehubov. This is Grandi’s fifth visit to Ukraine since the escalation of the war in February 2022, and his third to Kharkiv, which continues to host about 200,000 internally displaced people, including many recent evacuees from front-line communities. 

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned that with upcoming winter, conditions in Kharkiv could become even more difficult forcing many people to leave for safety and survival, seeking protection elsewhere. 

“Kharkiv holds a special place in our efforts to support the people of Ukraine. I have seen firsthand the impact of the continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and the consequences on millions of civilians. But I have also witnessed tireless reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, further proof of the strength and resilience of the Government of Ukraine and its people. We cannot take this for granted. International support remains critical to address the needs and to demonstrate our continued solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” said Filippo Grandi.  

To prevent further displacement and ensure people remain safe and warm in their homes, UNHCR has launched a comprehensive winter response plan as a part of a broader UN appeal to provide people with cash, help them repair homes or insulate them before cold arrives and pay energy bills.  

During his visit, Grandi in coordination with the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine handed over ten generators to the hromada authorities as an initial contribution to the government-led effort to provide alternative energy sources and to keep critical services operational. 

“We are grateful to UNHCR for the provided generators for seven communities in Kharkiv region. This equipment is intended for critical infrastructure facilities in towns and villages, and will be extremely important in the situation of power outages. The support of international partners will help ensure the energy stability and security of communities in these difficult times. Thank you for your help to the residents of Kharkiv region,” says Oleh Syniehubov, Head of the Kharkiv oblast state administration.  

“This support helps us resist Russian terrorist attacks on our energy infrastructure. Such assistance will strengthen our energy system to better prepare for the autumn and winter period and get through the heating season. We are working to restore all equipment that will be possible, but the backup energy sources will undoubtedly ease the situation for the residents of Kharkiv region,” noted Svitlana Hrynchuk, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine. 

The situation in Kharkiv region deteriorated in May due to a new ground offensive by the Russian Federation Armed Forces. Over 10,000 people from the frontline communities were evacuated to Kharkiv city.  Jointly with its NGO partners, UNHCR has been supporting the evacuees with emergency cash, essential items, legal and psychosocial support, and by improving living conditions in the collective sites where they were accommodated.   

In 2022 and 2023, UNHCR and partners have supported over 258,000 people in Kharkiv region, and since the start of 2024, they have provided over 109,000 multisectoral services to people in the region, including cash assistance, psychosocial and legal aid and house repairs.  Additionally, UNHCR provides support in 37 collective sites, including those which have received new evacuees over the last months. This was possible thanks to the generous support of UNHCR’s largest donors in Ukraine – the United States of America, the European Union, Norway, France and Japan.

 

For more information on this topic, please contact: 

In Kyiv, Iryna Tymchyshyn, [email protected], +38 050 4743512

In Geneva, Carlotta Wolf, [email protected], +41 79 5466707 

In Geneva, Matthew Saltmarsh, [email protected] +41 79 9679936