"We know we will have a tomorrow"

Sending hope to Ukrainian people

Thanks to our generous supporters, vulnerable Ukrainians are receiving vital aid and protection, helping them survive a third year of war. Your gifts bring relief and hope to families enduring the conflict in their homeland, and to those who have been forced to flee abroad.

These three stories show the power of your support.

Serhii

Earlier this year, the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih was targeted by Russian missiles. Serhii, 57, was injured by the shelling, and his house and other property were severely damaged. A huge crater in his garden is a daily reminder of the terrifying moment.

“I was desperate, I did not understand what had happened,” says Serhii. “It was just a matter of seconds. The windows and doors were blown out. It’s a miracle that I am alive.”

Responding to the attack, UNHCR and its Ukrainian partner Proliska provided Serhii with an emergency shelter kit which helped him to quickly seal the broken windows and holes in the roof and walls.

He also received essential aid items, psychosocial support and legal assistance to get back on his feet and undertake further repairs.

“My house is severely damaged, but I am going to stay and rebuild it,” Serhii says.

With support from generous donors, UNHCR is supplying emergency shelter kits across the country, helping families repair their homes.

Nataliia and her family

Nataliia and her family had to evacuate their village in the Kharkiv region after Russian forces launched a deadly offensive.

“It was impossible to stay there due to the constant shelling,” Nataliia says. “We spent several days in the basement. There was no phone or internet connection. We had to leave. We took only our documents.”

UNHCR’s dedicated teams remained on the ground assisting evacuees. With their support, Nataliia found a safe place to stay and received emergency cash to cover her family’s basic needs.

“We are grateful for this assistance,” says Nataliia. “It is essential for us.”

The violence in Kharkiv, combined with ongoing attacks across the country, continues to destroy lives and tear families apart. Your gifts are making a real difference, providing shelter, cash and psychological aid to people fleeing deadly bombing, like Nataliia.

Svetlana and Miron

When war broke out in Ukraine, Svetlana, 54, and her son Miron, 14, were forced to spend all day sheltering in a basement in their hometown of Dnipro.

During this time, Miron, who has autism, stopped talking. A talented pianist, one of Miron’s main forms of communication was through music.

“I was very afraid,” says Svetlana. “I realised I had to take my child out of there, to keep everything calm for him.”

Svetlana took Miron to safety in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. She struggled to support them both until she began receiving cash assistance from UNHCR. Thanks to donors like you, she is now creating a more stable life for her son.

Svetlana says being by the sea has had a miraculous effect on Miron.

“The sea calms him down,” she says. “He started talking. He sings. He plays.”

Miron is now studying online, is part of an arts group and has won awards for his piano performances. They both dream that one day they can return safely to Ukraine.

“We know we will have a tomorrow,” Svetlana says.

Your support in action

Thanks to you, UNHCR has supported over 850,000 Ukrainians this year with:

• Emergency cash assistance to help cover basic needs such as food, healthcare, clothing and accommodation
• Safe shelter, warm blankets, mattresses and kitchen supplies
• Psychological support to help cope with the trauma of war
• Repairs to damaged buildings to help families return home when it is safe to do so
• Protection for the most vulnerable, including children, older people and people with disabilities.

Through your generosity, Ukrainians are receiving urgent support in their time of greatest need.

If you’d like to send more aid to Ukrainian families, please donate here:

Ukraine crisis appeal