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Ukraine: EU-funded project reaches thousands with protection, shelter and winter support across frontline regions

After 12 months of implementation, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and its local partners have completed an integrated humanitarian project funded by the European Union, providing lifesaving assistance to war-affected people across Ukraine.

Working in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kherson, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Kyiv oblasts, the project combined protection services, shelter support, cash assistance and mine risk education to help families cope with the ongoing consequences of war.

Over the course of the project, nearly 69,200 people received support to repair damaged homes, stay warm during winter, access legal assistance, address protection concerns and reduce the risks posed by explosive ordnance.

More than 12,000 people gained access to safer and more dignified shelter solutions, while legal assistance and counselling reached far beyond initial targets, reflecting the growing needs of people struggling with damaged property, lost documentation and displacement.

The project also helped vulnerable households withstand another difficult winter. Through cash assistance for utilities and heating, insulation support and emergency repairs, families were able to remain in their homes despite repeated attacks on energy infrastructure and harsh weather conditions.

Moreover, thanks to the project's flexibility, DRC rapidly provided essential equipment and household appliances, like microwaves and kettles, to "Points of Invincibility" across Ukraine during severe winter energy shortages. This emergency support directly assisted thousands of people daily who seek warmth, hot food, and electricity in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk oblasts.

Behind every figure is a personal story

In Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv oblasts, families used shelter assistance to restore homes damaged by shelling and prepare for winter. Older people and vulnerable households received support to keep their homes warm during periods of power outages and rising energy costs.

“You’ve helped me so much. My neighbours didn't believe such support was possible,” said Hennadii from Kryvyi Rih about the renovations that made his home warm and dry this winter.

For those like Kateryna, who endured years of occupation and shelling, access to assistance and community support provided an opportunity to regain a sense of stability and dignity amid uncertainty.

The project also addressed less visible consequences of the war. Protection teams provided legal aid, psychosocial support and case management services to people facing displacement, housing and property issues, gender-based violence risks and other protection concerns.

At the same time, mine action teams delivered explosive ordnance risk education to communities living with the daily threat of contamination.

The programme was implemented alongside five local partners — Caritas Mariupol, Caritas Kharkiv, STEP, Alliance Global, and Misto Syly — whose community roots proved essential in areas where access is difficult.

As humanitarian needs across Ukraine remain severe, DRC stays firmly on the ground, transitioning ongoing support into its next wave of emergency programmes to ensure that frontline families are never left to rebuild alone.