Situation Update - AUGUST 2025

• Humanitarian needs across Ukraine continue to deepen as intensified attacks on populated areas result in increased civilian casualties and widespread damage to critical civilian infrastructure—particularly in front-line areas.
• In response to these growing challenges, humanitarian partners are aligning efforts under the reprioritized 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, focusing on four strategic priorities: reaching the most vulnerable people near the front line, supporting evacuations from high-risk areas, responding to emergencies following attacks, delivering aid to the most at-risk internally displaced people
• Despite shrinking global humanitarian funding, these priorities have guided the delivery of life-saving assistance to 3.6 million people across Ukraine by June 2025.
• Close coordination of response efforts and timely donor support are critical to ensure swift and efficient delivery of humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine.
• The United Nations and partners launched the 2025–2026 Winter Response Plan, seeking $277.7 million to provide vital assistance to 1.7 million vulnerable people.

From March to May, civilians in Ukraine faced heightened risks as hostilities intensified and attacks on urban areas became more frequent. The Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (HRMMU) verified that 581 civilians were killed and 2,926 were injured between March and May 2025. The number of people killed and injured surged by nearly 50 per cent in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.  

Intensified attacks triggered a new wave of displacement, notably in Sumska, Donetska, Kharkivska and Dnipropetrovska oblasts. Between March and May, IOM assessed that more than 42,000 people were displaced from front-line oblasts. 

Children continued to be severely affected by the ongoing violence, disrupting access to early childhood development and education. According to IOM, 21 per cent of Ukraine's children under five are not attending any pre-school programmes due to war-related reasons.

Access to health care deteriorated due to the impact of repeated attacks on health facilities, limited capacity and rising cost of health-care services. The WHO recorded more than 130 attacks on health care personnel and facilities from March to May 2025.

Food needs remain a significant concern in front-line oblasts and northern border areas. Nearly one-third of the households in front-line and border oblasts have identified food insecurity as a primary concern.  

For more information, read Ukraine: Humanitarian Situation Snapshot (March - May 2025) 

Humanitarian access for aid organizations remained challenging in Ukraine's front-line communities. This was mainly due to the acceleration of front-line shifts, intense hostilities in the most-affected regions, as well as long-range strikes and ongoing conscription of staff working with humanitarian partners. 

During May and June, 36 access incidents were reported, with two-thirds impacting humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities. Khersonska and Kharkivska oblasts had the highest number of reported incidents.

The pace of front-line shifts intensified during May and June, primarily in Donetska Oblast, compared to a year ago. Due to the advances of the Russian Federation Armed Forces in the oblast front line, humanitarians lost access to an estimated 10,000 residents who had received assistance from 17 humanitarian partners. 

Since the start of the year, two humanitarian workers have been killed in the line of duty. Reports from humanitarian partners indicate that many aid organizations have either reduced their presence or withdrawn from areas with increasing security risks, particularly in Khersonska and Donetska oblasts.

Conscription of staff continued to impact the operational capacity of some humanitarian actors.  

For more information, read Ukraine: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (May - June 2025)

By the end of June 2025, humanitarian partners had reached 3.6 million people with at least one form of aid. This included emergency and multi-sector assistance for highly vulnerable populations along the front line, for people that evacuated, people affected by intensified attacks and the most vulnerable displaced people.

Most of the support and services provided focused on front-line oblasts, including Dnipropetrovska, Kharkivska, Mykolaivska, Zaporizka, Sumska, Donetska and Khersonska. 

As of 31 June, 31 per cent of the required funding had been received—$830 million out of the $2.63 billion needed to provide essential assistance in areas with the most pressing needs. 

As hostilities intensify and impact on critical civilian infrastructure persist, the Humanitarian Country Team launched the 2025–2026 Winter Response Plan. The plan requires US$277.7 million to deliver multisectoral, life-saving assistance and services to 1.7 million of the most vulnerable people who will face increased needs due to extreme cold between October 2025 and March 2026. 

For more information, read Humanitarian Response and Funding Snapshot (January – June 2025).

In autumn 2024, Olena Starusiova and her husband Oleksandr were preparing to face another harsh winter in their village in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region. With three small children and a fourth on the way, they couldn’t afford to heat their home with gas. Power cuts were still common, and the memory of living without electricity or gas during the occupation was still fresh.

Just in time, they received help through a firewood distribution programme supported by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund and implemented by CORE and SDS NGO. “My husband calculated that the amount we received would last the whole winter,” said Olena. “We were so relieved—it made a huge difference.” The home stayed warm, and Olena was able to rest in comfort after giving birth in early spring.

Their story shows the importance of early, targeted support. As Ukraine heads into another winter, humanitarian partners aim to assist 1.7 million people under the 2025–2026 Winter Response Plan. Timely funding will be critical to help families like the Starusiovs stay warm and safe.

Read the full story here.