Since the war in Ukraine escalated on February 24, 2022, millions of children have faced displacement, loss, and prolonged uncertainty. Nearly four years on, humanitarian needs remain severe, especially for children growing up during war, disrupted education, and psychological strain.
Ukraine crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the war in Ukraine, and learn how to help children and their families.
- Fast facts: Ukraine crisis
- What is the current situation in Ukraine?
- How many people are affected by the war in Ukraine?
- What are the widespread impacts of the crisis in Ukraine?
- How is the war in Ukraine affecting children?
- What’s World Vision doing to help people affected by the war in Ukraine?
- How is World Vision helping people in Ukraine during the winter?
- How many people has World Vision helped since the start of the war in Ukraine?
- How can I help people impacted by the crisis in Ukraine?
Fast facts: Ukraine crisis
- The conflict in Ukraine has displaced over 3.7 million people within the country and forced over 5 million to leave the country as of December 2025.
- The need for humanitarian assistance remains substantial, with an estimated 12.7 million people requiring humanitarian aid and protection, according to the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
- Children are among the most affected: As of early 2023, 5.3 million children were facing educational barriers, with 3.6 million impacted by school closures.
- War-related trauma is widespread, with many children showing signs of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.
- Since March 2022, World Vision and partners have reached over 2.3 million people in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, and Georgia with lifesaving aid, shelter, child protection programs, and other essentials.
What is the current situation in Ukraine?
The situation in Ukraine remains dire due to ongoing hostilities and repeated attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure. Millions of families are experiencing prolonged power outages, damaged housing, and limited access to basic services. These challenges are especially dangerous during the winter months.
Children are particularly vulnerable. With temperatures forecast to drop below 14°F and prolonged power outages in many areas, children are increasingly exposed to cold, insecurity, and interrupted schooling. More than 2,400 children have been killed or injured since the escalation, averaging 16 child casualties each week.
How many people are affected by the war in Ukraine?
According to the UNHCR, 12.7 million people need humanitarian aid and protection. In addition to the approximately 5 million people forced to live in Europe, at least 3.7 million more are displaced within Ukraine.
What are the widespread impacts of the crisis in Ukraine?
The war in Ukraine is one of the deadliest conflicts in Europe since World War II and continues to have far-reaching consequences beyond the country’s borders. Conflict has devastated the lives of Ukrainian children and families and has caused economic disruptions to food systems, energy markets, and trade, which have contributed to rising poverty and hunger worldwide.
Inside Ukraine, the impact includes destroyed homes and schools, strained health systems, interrupted education, and growing mental health needs. Children have spent their formative years living through war.
How is the war in Ukraine affecting children?
Eight-year-old Sofia from Kyiv remembers the war beginning on her fifth birthday. “I always thought it would be so cool if the war could end on my birthday, just like it began.” Like Sofia, millions of children are facing extreme challenges.
Blackouts from attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure leave homes, schools, and hospitals without heat, electricity, or water. Children spend long hours in cold, dark homes, increasing illness risk, and one in five families reports health problems linked to indoor cold.
The conflict also drives stress, anxiety, and isolation, while nearly 40% of school-aged children struggle with disrupted online or blended learning. Many shelter in basements during air raid sirens, and millions lack safe water or sanitation, raising disease risks.
“Prolonged exposure to extreme stress can have long-term effects on children’s physical health, emotional stability, and ability to connect with others. For many, the damage is not temporary; it can reshape the very foundations of childhood,” said Anna, a psychologist at the World Vision-supported Child-Friendly Space in Kyiv.
World Vision and partners provide safe spaces, education, and psychological support to help children cope and thrive despite the war.
What’s World Vision doing to help people affected by the war in Ukraine?
Since the onset of the conflict, World Vision has consistently delivered lifesaving aid, shelter, child protection services, and other essentials to support the most vulnerable people. We are bringing our global expertise and local partnerships to respond to the war in Ukraine and throughout the impacted regions.
Operating across every administrative region, known as oblasts, in Ukraine, World Vision collaborates with trusted local and international partners — including the WFP and UNICEF — to assist communities affected by the war. We’ve also implemented a cash assistance program managed by partners in Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, and Georgia.
Our efforts seek to provide immediate relief and enhance resilience for those most vulnerable to the challenges of winter.
Alongside immediate relief, we are also focused on long-term support through educational programs for children and adults, psychosocial and child protection services, livelihood support, and more, aiding communities in building resilience and recovering from crisis.
What is World Vision doing to help people impacted by the war in Ukraine during the winter?
In response to the harsh winter, we are providing cash assistance for families’ utility costs. Through our local partners, we’re distributing winterization kits, which include mattresses, sleeping bags, blankets, power banks, and portable stoves. We’ve also supplied generators to Child-Friendly Spaces run by partners to ensure continuous support services during blackouts.
“Children in Ukraine are facing extreme hardship this winter,” said Arman Grigoryan, World Vision’s Ukraine Crisis Response director. “In some areas, families go up to 36 hours without heating, electricity, or water. This prolonged lack of basic services puts children’s health at serious risk, disrupts their education, and threatens their overall well-being. Humanitarian support, including winter supplies, safe spaces, and psychosocial assistance, is urgently needed to protect them.”
How many people has World Vision helped since the start of the war in Ukraine?
We’ve been responding since the first week of the crisis. As of January 2026, our staff have provided essentials for approximately 2.3 million people across the region. Here are key figures:
- In Ukraine, our efforts have supported over 1.38 million people, nearly half of whom are children.
- In Romania, we’ve assisted more than 352,000 people with aid, including food, shelter, protection resources, and education and hygiene kits.
- In Moldova, over 510,320 people have been reached through our programming. We continue to support Moldovan families hosting refugees in 17 districts through our partnership with WFP.
- In Georgia, we’ve helped support 40,400 people with education, child protection, and programming, including vouchers for food, hygiene, clothing, and pharmacy costs.
