A Warmer Winter: How UNHCR Support Help Displaced Families in Ukraine
A Warmer Winter: How UNHCR Support Help Displaced Families in Ukraine
During the harsh winter months of 2024–2025, as Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure intensified, thousands of displaced families struggled to stay warm. In communal dormitories and damaged homes across the country, people faced freezing temperatures, energy blackouts, and rising heating costs.
Among them was Liliia Malamysnaia, a 45-year-old single mother who had been living with her 10-year-old son in a communal dormitory in Dnipro. Originally from Polohivska hromada in Zaporizia region, she and her son had fled their home in the spring of 2022 after it was destroyed in the early months of the full-scale invasion.
Their dormitory room was not prepared for winter.
“There were large gaps in the window frames and balcony door through which heat was escaping. Now the situation has completely changed; the room is warm and cozy, and there are no draughts!”, said Liliia.
Thanks to winterization assistance supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the conditions in their room improved significantly. New windows were installed, and insulation materials helped transform the space into a much warmer and more livable environment.
Volodymyr Pikalov, a 67-year-old pensioner, was also supported through the same initiative. Having originally left Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov) in Luhansk region back in 2014, he had spent nearly a decade in Lithuania before returning to Ukraine in December 2024 due to family circumstances. That’s when he had to return to Ukraine due to family circumstances and has been living in a communal dormitory in Dnipro city since then.
“With the new window installation, the room has become a lot warmer and now there is no need to use an electric heater at all”, said Volodymyr.
Liliia and Volodymyr are two of the more than 21,300 people who received housing support through UNHCR’s 2024–2025 Winterization Response, part of a broader inter-agency Winter Response Plan. These included the distribution of “Rapid Thermal Kits” for private houses, apartments and collective sites consisting of heaters and materials used by families to insulate their homes, such as reflective insulation screens, transparent plastic sheets, foam strips, and building tape. UNHCR also supported insulation works to improve the thermal efficiency of living spaces by insulating roofs and attics, installing modern triple-glazed windows and doors, and repairing existing damage to help retain heat, reduce energy costs, and save power.
While the winter months brought immense challenges, this support helped displaced and war-affected Ukrainians stay safe and warm and gave them one less burden to carry as they continue rebuilding their lives.
