Dnipro, Ukraine, 23 February 2026 – As Ukrainians face a fifth year of full-scale war, CARE is warning of the long-lasting and dangerous impact of living just to survive while lifelines are cut. Millions of people who have faced four years of cumulative stress, destruction, displacement, constant threat of attack are now seeing aid projects they rely on halt as international humanitarian funding falls to all-time low.
“After four years of full‑scale war, people describe to us endless nights spent half‑awake, listening for drones or blocking out the sound of explosions, unable to recall what true rest feels like,” says Michael McGrath, CARE Country Director in Ukraine. “Their strength has carried them this far, but the toll of constant fear and trauma is becoming impossible to ignore. We witness this in the consequences of psychological distress and many cases of gender-based violence, which are often underreported.”
In 2025, more than 2500 civilians were killed in conflict-related violence and more than 12,100 people were injured – a 31 percent increase compared to 2024, and 71 per cent higher than 2023.
“You can hear me clearly. I am here. All is good and well. I am okay. But don’t come back here, because we don’t have a home anymore,” Tetiana said this to her daughter moments after being pulled from the rubble, when her home in Zaporizhzhia region was destroyed by a drone strike. Her experience is no longer exceptional. Civilian casualties caused by short-range drones increased by 120 per cent in 2025, resulting in 577 civilians killed and 3,288 injured.
Attacks on energy infrastructure have also intensified, with every power plant in Ukraine damaged at some stage during the conflict. Many people have lost access to electricity, heating, and water. With night-time temperatures falling far below zero degrees Celsius for weeks, this is particularly dangerous for older people, the sick, and children. Those living in frontline areas struggle to keep warm in freezing temperatures, whether in damaged homes or bomb shelters.
On conflict lines, communities face a more enduring toll that will last beyond the destruction of homes and energy systems. According to CARE’s humanitarian needs analysis, more than 70 per cent of adults in communities closest to the intense fighting live with anxiety, depression, or severe stress. One in three households identifies insufficient income as their most urgent challenge, and 35 percent of households cannot meet their basic needs, causing even more stress. More than four million displaced people who have moved away from the conflict’s frontlines are now returning as their savings disappear and rent rises. Over one third have returned to dangerous areas – because they cannot afford to stay in safety.
Despite this critical situation, humanitarian funding has dropped significantly – from 88 percent coverage in 2022 to 56 percent in 2025, despite the humanitarian appeal having been tightly re-prioritized due to severe funding cuts to aid.
“Decreasing funding means that life-saving projects must be stopped,” said Karl-Otto Zentel, Secretary General of CARE Deutschland. “At a time when needs remain vast and increasingly complex, this means more families are left without support. While we know that when people flee to safety, emergency aid alone is not enough – they need sustained support to regain stability, rebuild their lives, and eventually stand on their own feet.”
Over time, it has become increasingly clear that emergency assistance alone is not enough. We see women and girls severely affected by the war. Their rights and their bodies have been violated.
Many have faced abuse and sexual violence. They need access to justice, protection of their rights, and the assurance that violations will not go unanswered. This requires strong institutions and effective, survivor-centred mechanisms – something we continue to work towards,” said Yaryna Voloshyn, Head of Communications at the Ukrainian Women-Lawyers Association JurFem, one of CARE’s partners in Ukraine.
As civilian deaths rise and humanitarian funding falls to its lowest level since the start of the full-scale invasion, the gap between needs and support is widening. Without sustained international commitment, more families will be left without protection, assistance, or the means to rebuild their lives.
Under International Humanitarian Law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times. The normalization of civilian harm is unacceptable.
For media inquiries, please email usa.media@care.org or contact Halyna Bilak, communication coordinator at CARE Ukraine, email: Bilak@care.de