Source: UN News: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 00:01 AM
It is soon four years since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, and millions of Ukrainians are struggling to maintain electricity and heating in their homes under the shadow of war. United Nations humanitarian aid workers have warned that this crisis has a deep impact on the safety, protection and economic situation of women. UN agency for the empowerment of womenUN Women)’s Geneva office head, Sophia Coltorp, recently returned from a trip to Ukraine. He told journalists in Geneva on Friday that families are forced to live without heating, electricity and reliable shelter in the harsh winter. Tweet URL
65 percent of energy production capacity in Ukraine has been destroyed due to systematic attacks by Russian military forces. The senior UN official said that the complete blackout of power supply is not just a technical disruption, and it affects the safety, security and economic situation of women. Sophia Coltorp said that the mobility of women has been severely affected by the long periods of darkness, no street lighting and disruption of the transport system, and their The risk of harassment and accidents has also increased. A large number of Ukrainian women work in sectors of the economy where power outages have a greater impact: such as education, health, social services and retail. Under these circumstances, they are now losing jobs. No electricity, no schools, no pay. “In Kiev, heating has been set up in a tent to support civilians, where I met Irina… She told me that no electricity means no school for my children and no electricity means no work for me. It means no pay.” According to UN Women, February 24 The year 2025 has proved to be the most deadly year for women since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since the war broke out four years ago, more than 5 thousand women and girls have lost their lives and 14 thousand have been injured. The actual figure is likely to be much higher. According to the head of UN Women in Geneva, despite these challenges, Ukrainian women are moving their country forward and women-led organizations are leading humanitarian efforts. The challenge of cuts in financial supportTheir contributions are providing protection services, psychosocial support, emergency assistance and livelihood opportunities to millions of people in Ukraine, but they are at grave risk due to cuts in financial support. According to a survey conducted to assess the impact of cuts in foreign aid, 1 in 3 women-led organizations have warned that they do not have the resources to operate for more than 6 months. UN Women said that due to the decline in financial support in 2025 and 2026, there is a possibility of a loss of $ 53.9 million this year. If this trend continues, essential services for 63 thousand women may end. Women will need psychosocial and legal support, they will lack political representation and economic opportunities. Due to weakening of women’s organizations, there is a possibility of weakening of the system of humanitarian and rehabilitation services in Ukraine. © UNHCR/Alina Kovalenko A large number of women in Ukraine have been forced to migrate, and are trying to get their lives back on track. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Ukraine has expressed concern that the continuing attacks on energy installations in Ukraine are having a profound impact on electricity supply and heating systems, with vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of them. These include the elderly, people living with disability and those suffering from long-term illnesses, among others. It is reported that cold houses Diseases increase and power cuts also affect the mental state. Communities are tired of prolonged periods of darkness, isolation and constant uncertainty. World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Christian Lindmayr said attacks on health care services have had a devastating impact on the health of local communities. Over the past four years, there have been 2,870 confirmed attacks, killing 233 and injuring 937 health care workers and patients.