Weekly Update #103
February 19, 2024

Covers those granted refugee status, temporary asylum status, temporary protection, or statuses through similar national protection schemes, as well as those recorded in the country under other forms of stay

Refugees from Ukraine recorded beyond Europe

475,600

Last updated January 27 2024

Refugees from Ukraine recorded globally

6,479,700

Last updated February 15 2024

Estimated number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ukraine

3,674,002

Last updated November 6 2023

Source: IOM

Source: UNHCR collation of statistics made available by the authorities

_____________________________________________________

Refugee Population Movements

While the peak of the displacement occurred during the first four months of the full-scale invasion, population movements from and to Ukraine have continued ever since and become more complex. On the one hand, the ongoing full-scale war and hostilities across the country continue to force people to flee in search of safety. On the other, many refugees engage in pendular movements and short-term visits between Ukraine and host countries, and others have voluntarily returned to Ukraine on a more permanent basis.

A Fact Sheet released by UNHCR presents trends related to population movements and new displacements. Significant trends are shown below.

EVOLUTION OF BORDER MOVEMENTS FROM AND TO UKRAINE

Number of monthly crossings along the borders with Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia

Source: Border authorities in Hungary, Poland, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia. Data does not include crossings of nationals of the bordering countries.

How many refugees are engaging in pendular movements and short-term visits?

Data from UNHCR’s intentions survey indicates an increasing trend in short-term visits over time, with up to 39% of refugees (around 1.8 million refugees) reporting that they had visited Ukraine at least once since their displacement.

Similarly, border monitoring interviews show that the incidence of repeated movements has also grown over time, as only 38% of individuals interviewed in the last quarter of 2023 were leaving the country for the first time, compared to 64% of those interviewed in last quarter of 2022.

How many refugees have returned to Ukraine?

Based on data from IOM’s General Population Surveys (GPS) inside Ukraine, it is estimated that by September 2023 over 900,000 refugees from Ukraine had returned to their places of origin and remained in Ukraine for at least three months. Additionally, some 298,000 refugees are estimated to have returned to an area different from their former homes.

How many refugees arrived in host countries in 2023?

According to data published by EUROSTAT, between January and December 2023, over 1,032,000 individuals were granted Temporary Protection (TP) in EU+ countries. While lower than in 2022, decisions granting temporary protection still average more than 87,000 per month, though with a decreasing trend during the year. Needs assessments recently conducted in ten refugee hosting countries show that around 14% of refugees arrived in 2023 to their current host countries.

How many refugees from Ukraine are currently in Europe and globally?

As of the end of 2023, close to 6.4 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded globally, including some 6 .0 million hosted in countries across Europe. The number of refugees from Ukraine recorded in Europe has increased slightly in 2023 (+5%) compared to 2022 (5.7 million). While additional applications for temporary protection or asylum have been registered this year, and some countries have also reported new arrivals under other forms of stay, authorities in Europe have also adjusted their population estimates for different reasons (including de-deduplications and de-activations).

On the other hand, onward movements outside of Europe have increased significantly in 2023, with over 403,600 refugees from Ukraine recorded outside of Europe by December 2023, compared to 230,000 by end of 2022. The majority of these refugees are hosted in Canada and the United States of America, who have set-up specific schemes for temporary stay.

Source: UNHCR

THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

A new wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine on 15 February, compounded by hostilities along the front line over the last few days, has caused more civilian deaths and injuries – including among children – and disrupted critical services for hundreds of thousands of people.

As temperatures remain below zero in many places, thousands of customers were left without critical services, including electricity and heating, as a result of attacks impacting energy facilities.

Access to education and health care has also been further disrupted by attacks impacting educational institutions, as well as medical personnel, patients, health facilities and supplies, particularly in the east and south of the country.

Aid organizations continued efforts to provide emergency assistance in response to the latest attacks, including repair materials, psychological support and medical assistance, complementing other ongoing humanitarian interventions.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

A new wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine on 15 February, compounded by hostilities along the front line over the last few days, has caused more civilian deaths and injuries and disrupted critical services for hundreds of thousands of people as the winter continues. Homes, schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.

As temperatures remain below zero in many places, thousands of customers were left without critical services, including electricity and heating, as a result of attacks impacting energy facilities. On 12 and 13 February, power supply was reportedly disrupted for some 30,000 customers – families, businesses and institutions – and 10,000 families were reported without water supply in Dnipropetrovska Oblast, according to estimates by the authorities.

Even though the electricity supply was promptly restored, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine reported significant damage to the energy equipment, which has potential consequences for further disruption of services. As a consequence, and in anticipation of an additional load on the critical systems in Dnipro City if the temperature drops, the municipal authorities evacuated patients from a palliative care hospital and switched six schools to online learning on 13 February. Heating was also temporarily disrupted in Kherson City. The wave of attacks on 15 February interrupted power supply in Lvivska and Kharkivska oblasts, according to humanitarian partners on the ground. Furthermore, the Ministry of Energy reported further damage to a power plant in Donetska Oblast, which had been hit several times since December 2023. In this oblast, over 50 villages and towns are already without electricity due to the damage caused by the months of hostilities.

Damage to water and waste-water infrastructure in Kharkivska Oblast has increased in the past two weeks due to attacks, which limits providers’ capacities for repairs and impacts people’s access to water, hygiene and sanitation services. In Donetska Oblast, where access to water has been challenging since the escalation of the war, further damage to the Karlivka filtration station during the latest attacks affected the water pipeline and station facilities, with the backup water source installed in May 2023 also damaged, impacting water access for people in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad.

Access to health care has also been further disrupted by attacks impacting personnel, patients, health facilities and supplies, particularly in the east and south of the country. On 13 February, a hospital, including its maternity ward, was damaged in Selydove Town, Donetska Oblast, killing three civilians and injuring 11 patients and a health-care worker. The attack prompted the evacuation of patients to nearby medical facilities. This was the second time since November 2023 that this particular hospital was damaged, limiting already constrained access to vital health care in the area. Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown condemned the attack, underlining that hospitals and civilians seeking medical care must be protected under international humanitarian law. Over the last few days, additional health facilities were reportedly affected in Kharkivska and Khersonska oblasts. Since the escalation of the war in February 2022, WHO has documented over 1,570 attacks on health, including some 34 since 29 December 2023.

Attacks impacting educational facilities across the country, as highlighted in the joint statement by UNICEF and WHO on 8 February, continue to hamper the educational process, already disrupted for millions of children. This week alone, the national police recorded damage to a school and a kindergarten in Niu-York Town, Donetska Oblast, east of Ukraine. While on 15 February, strikes damaged four more education facilities in Lviv and Zaporizhzhia cities.

The recent waves of attacks have led to further destruction and damage of hundreds of homes across Ukraine, putting people at further risk amid cold temperatures. For instance, a large-scale fire at the oil storage facility caused by an attack in Kharkiv on 10 February, which was extinguished only on 12 February, destroyed a dozen nearby houses. Since February 2022, a staggering 2 million homes in Ukraine have been impacted – nearly 10 per cent of all Ukrainian houses, according to the latest Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Needs Assessment, uprooting millions of people.

In front-line areas unabated hostilities led to more civilian casualties, including children. Three children were killed in an attack in Kharkiv on 10 February, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (HRMMU). Furhermore, a mother and her child were killed during an attack in Selydove, Donetska Oblast, on 13 February, according to the authorities. Between 24 February 2022 and 31 January 2024, HRMMU verified almost 10,500 civilians killed and close to 20,000 injured across Ukraine, including nearly 580 children killed and 1,300 children injured.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Aid organizations continued to provide emergency assistance in response to the latest attacks, complementing other ongoing humanitarian interventions.

On 15 February in Zaporizhzhia, Shelter/Non-Food Items Cluster – NGOs Carias Zaporizhzhia, Posmiska UA, Proliska, Sontse UA and others – delivered repair materials to families whose homes had been damaged by the attacks. In Lviv, on the same day, humanitarians provided assistance to civilians, where UNHCR and Rokada NGO distributed plastic and tarpaulin sheets to cover the damage in the buildings impacted by an attack. In Selydove, Donetska Oblast, on 14 February, local NGO Angels of Salvation also delivered emergency repair materials. In Kharkiv on 10 February, partners were on the ground from early morning with repair materials and critical supplies to affected families.

Additionally, Protection Cluster partners, including Rokada in Lviv and Mission Proliska and Right to Protection in Dnipro, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, as well as other cities and communities across Ukraine, mobilized psychologists to the sites of attacks, offering support to those affected by the traumatic events. They also provided legal consultations on site.

In Selydove, Donetska Oblast, where a hospital was hit and sustained severe damage, Health Cluster partners, in coordination with authorities and hospital administration, supported the transportation of patients to nearby medical facilities. Médecins Sans Frontières and Cadus International transferred 10 patients to three hospitals in the neighbouring towns of Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk. The hospital is also supported by UNFPA, which coordinates perinatal support to the patients following the transfer of the maternity ward to Pokrovsk. To support hospitals receiving patients transferred from Selydove, WHO, INTERSOS and INGO Project Hope provided medical supplies, including trauma and emergency surgery kits and dressing materials, in addition to hygiene products and drinkable water. Since 1 February 2024, Health Cluster partners have responded with emergency medical care in more than 11 attacks.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Cluster partners Project Hope and UNICEF are providing safe drinking water for people evacuated from Selydove hospital, while Water Mission provides several safe water production points for people in the area. Humanitarians continue to provide assistance related to water, sanitation and hygiene services in other parts of the oblast, where due to intense ground fighting, access to water is severely disrupted. For instance, INGO Samaritan’s Purse, in coordination with local authorities, put a filtering station in service in Siverska Hromada, which had been cut off water, gas and electricity for months. UNICEF, IOM, SDC and ACF are providing support to repair water and waste-water infrastructure.

Aid organizations also continue activities to provide critical winter-related assistance. This included solid fuel and cash for fuel to ensure heating to more than 710,000 people; winter clothes for 230,000 people; and support for the operation and maintenance of district heating systems for over 410,000 people, among other critical assistance during the below-zero cold winter season in Ukraine.

Source: UNOCHA

HIGHLIGHTS OF HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE IN 2023

Humanitarian Response and Funding Snapshot

FUNDING

In 2023, despite emerging new humanitarian crises, Ukraine's humanitarian response has remained among the most generously funded emergencies, even though the funding received has dropped significantly from the previous year.

With some 68 per cent of the $3.95 billion requested under the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), humanitarian organizations have been able to significantly scale up their presence and operations throughout Ukraine to meet the increasing needs.

This support was vital in ensuring a humanitarian presence and sustaining response efforts across many parts of the country, particularly in the areas most in need, as many of the people have exhausted their limited resources and coping mechanisms.

To meet the critical needs in most-affected areas, some 26 donors contributed to the Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund, which remained the world largest country-based pooled fund. The Fund allocated over US$181 million. Some $112 million were provided through emergency allocation to support most critical interventions.

Over 30 per cent of this was provided to national actors. The 2023 HRP saw substantial contributions from several key donors with United States, providing nearly 38 per cent (over $1 billion) of the total funding received. Other key donors included Germany ($345 million), the European Commission ($331 million), Japan ($171.4 million), Norway ($167.7 million), the United Kingdom ($129.8 million) and France ($119.3 million).

Source: UNOCHA

_____________________________________________________

HEALTH CLUSTER RESPONSE

Spike in civilian casualties in recent weeks resulted in 641 injured and/or killed in January 2024 alone, due to the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine. Since 29 December 2023, rampant aerial raids have endangered the health and well-being of millions of people who lack access to basic services such as electricity, water, and heating in the harsh winter conditions.

In support of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Health Cluster partners provided life-saving health assistance to some 1471 people affected by the air raid winter attacks. Concurrently, as national authorities continued to relocate civilians to safer places, Health Cluster partners coordinated the provision of primary and mental health care assistance to some 234 relocated civilians at the Kharkiv transit center in January 2024.

The Health Cluster launched the first round of supportive partner project monitoring visits in January 2024. The first two visits of 2024, carried out in Donetska oblast, assessed the impact and relevance of partner health interventions. As a high priority for 2024, the partner project monitoring visits will continue to examine partner projects for their relevance, quality, and accountability to local populations in locations where they are implemented.

Following the intensification of airstrikes on 29 December 2023, an estimated 1,504 persons have been reached with humanitarian health assistance by Health Cluster partners working in close collaboration with the Ukraine Ministry of Health. These responses occurred in the affected regions of Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Kharkivska, Odeska, Donetska, and Kyiv. Some 15 partners including UN agencies, local and international NGOs supported the delivery of emergency medical services and integrated primary health care.  

The WHO SSA indicates that from 29 December 2023 to 15 February 2024, there are 34 verified attacks impacting health facilities across Ukraine.

Since 1 February 2024, Health Cluster partners in coordination with the Ministry of Health reached 33 persons with emergency medical care in 11 attacks.  In response to the air raid on 7 February 2024 in Kyiv, 23 people were provided with first aid and psychological first aid.

An overnight attack on a hospital in Donetsk on 14 February left three people dead, injured 11 patients, and a healthcare worker. . Local emergency services evacuated 50 people, while 10 patients were transferred by a health partner to a nearby facility. 

To support hospitals receiving patients transferred from the affected health facility in Donetsk, Health cluster partners aprovided medical supplies, including trauma and emergency surgery kits and dressing materials, in addition to hygiene products and portable water. In close collaboration with the local health authorities, the Health Cluster continues to monitor the situation and respond to the urgent needs of the affected population. 

Attacks continue to negatively impact the delivery of health care to the entire population, disrupting humanitarian health assistance, and undermining the capacity of health structures to provide health care. In Kharkivska, Donetska and Khersonka Oblasts, health partners continue to work closely with local health authorities to deliver assistance amidst the heightened tensions while aligning with safety and security guidelines.

Winter Attacks in January 2024

Access to health care has also been significantly affected by the increasing number of attacks; according to the WHO Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care, 24 attacks on health care were verified in Ukraine in January 2024 alone.

The majority of these attacks (22) had a direct impact on health care facilities, with secondary health care facilities being the most affected (11).

Source: Health Cluster, WHO

_____________________________________________________

Third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3), February 2022 - December 2023

After almost two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an updated joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3) released today by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the United Nations currently estimates that as of 31 December 2023 the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is $486 billion over the next decade, up from $411 billion estimated one year ago.

In 2024 alone, Ukrainian authorities estimate the country will need around around $15 billion for immediate reconstruction and recovery priorities at both the national and community level, with a particular focus on supporting and mobilizing the private sector alongside restoration of housing, soft infrastructure and services, energy, and transport. The RDNA3 highlights that while some $5.5 billion of this funding has been secured, from both Ukraine’s international partners and its own resources, about $9.5 billion is currently unfunded.

Despite the ongoing full-scale war, the Ukrainian government, with the support of international partners, continues to implement a rapid recovery program. The execution of the Third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3) allows us to approach this process more systematically. We are grateful to the World Bank and other partners for this work," said Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal. "We see that the needs for reconstruction have continued to grow over the past year. The main resource for Ukraine's recovery should be the confiscation of Russian assets frozen in the West. We need to start this process already this year. Concurrently, the Ukrainian government is creating conditions to attract private investments, which will accelerate the reconstruction process and transform our country on its path to the EU."

Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi said: “Russia’s war of aggression continues to have far-reaching consequences on Ukraine. The EU will continue to play a key role in addressing the short and medium-term challenges identified in today’s RDNA3 report. By making available the updated information, RDNA3 helps to further focus the recovery, reconstruction and modernization effort through Ukraine Facility and Ukraine Plan.”

The RDNA3, which covers damages incurred over a nearly two-year period from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, to December 31, 2023, finds that direct damage in Ukraine has now reached almost $152 billion, with housing, transport, commerce and industry, energy, and agriculture as the most affected sectors. Damage is concentrated in the Donetska, Kharkivska, Luhanska, Zaporizka, Khersonska, and Kyivska oblasts which are the same regions that suffered the greatest damage as reported in the previous assessment.

Across the country, 10% of the housing stock has been damaged or destroyed, prolonging displacement of Ukrainians from their communities. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and the hydropower plant in June 2023 has resulted in significant negative impacts on the environment and agriculture and exacerbated challenges already faced by people struggling to access housing, water, food, health services.

The RDNA3 lists critical investment needs for short-term recovery and medium-term reconstruction. Where possible, the assessment considers and excludes the needs that have been already met through the state budget and support provided by partners and the international community.

The RDNA3 also highlights the continued need for reforms and policies that catalyze private sector involvement and ensure an inclusive and green recovery, as well as integrating project planning into the medium-term budget planning process.

“The last two years have seen unprecedented suffering and loss for Ukraine and its people,” said Antonella Bassani, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia. “Yet, while this updated assessment documents the extensive damages and consequent needs, it is at the same time a testament to Ukraine’s resilience—demonstrating that the dedication and adaptability of its people have helped to already repair some of the damage and build towards recovery. As the Ukrainian authorities continue on their path towards economic recovery and ambitious reforms, we, the World Bank Group, remain deeply committed to working with them to secure a better future.”

The RDNA3 findings complement the priorities foreseen in reform and investment agenda of the Ukraine Plan that will lay the framework for implementing payments under the Ukraine Facility for the next four years by the EU. As Ukraine prepares for the EU accession process, these reforms and investments support the principles of “building back better” and the institutional capacity of national and subnational authorities.

Since the last assessment (RDNA2), the Government of Ukraine, with the support of its partners, has met some of the most urgent needs. For example, in the housing sector, according to the Government of Ukraine data, in 2023, $1 billion was disbursed toward housing sector recovery, with most being dedicated to the repair and reconstruction of damaged buildings. In the transport sector, more than 2,000km of emergency repairs were made on motorways, highways, and other national roads. In the education sector, local authorities rebuilt approximately 500 educational institutions and since January 2023, the share of educational institutions with bomb shelters has increased from 68% to 80%.

The RDNA3 also includes stronger data and analysis of the impact on vulnerable groups of people and on communities. It presents the case for investment in Ukraine’s human capital.

“The war is not over. The suffering is not over,” said Denise Brown, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine. “But communities in Ukraine are demonstrating significant courage and commitment in driving their own inclusive recovery processes and they need the continued support of their international partners. The future of Ukraine depends upon the people of Ukraine; this is where we need to invest.”

The overall costs reflected in the recovery and reconstruction figure of $486 billion—estimated over 10 years—include measures required for rebuilding for a modern, low-carbon, inclusive and climate-resilient future. The highest estimated recovery and reconstruction needs are in housing (17% of the total), followed by transport (15%), commerce and industry (14%), agriculture (12%), energy (10%), social protection and livelihoods (9%), and explosive hazard management (7%). Across all sectors, the cost of debris clearance and management (and demolition where needed) reached almost $11 billion.

Sources: EC, Govt. Ukraine, UNCT Ukraine, 1 more

_____________________________________________________

How a demining project is bringing hope to farmers two years on

The World Food Programme and FAO work with partners to restore agricultural livelihoods in the world’s most heavily mined country.

As Ukraine enters its third year of war, the country has outstripped Afghanistan and Syria to become the most heavily mined in the world. Roughly 25,000 sq km of agricultural land are potentially strewn with mines and other dangerous debris from the conflict, which have so far killed and maimed hundreds of people.

Beyond the risk to human lives, landmines are threatening this agricultural powerhouse that has long been a top grain exporter, contributing to pushing up global grain prices – and poverty.

Smallholder farmers like – responsible for the vast majority of milk, cattle, fruit and vegetable production in the country and accounting for three-quarters of its food-producing labour force – are especially threatened. Many have halted or reduced their production, and almost all are surviving on dwindling revenues.

But today, a small section has been cleared, thanks to a joint demining project run by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with support from the Geneva-based NGO Fondation Suisse de Déminage.

Focusing on smallholders like Korniich who cultivate less than 300 hectares of land – along with rural families growing crops for their own consumption – the programme is initially being rolled out in the eastern Kharkhiv region, with plans to expand to two of Ukraine’s other top farming regions, Mykolaiv and Kherson.

More jobs, new hopes

The WFP-FAO demining project is being carried out in close cooperation with rural communities and the Ukrainian authorities, as part of a broader government effort to clear vast swathes of contaminated land. The goal and the price tag are daunting: the World Bank estimates the cost could exceed $US37 billion.

But demining also brings major financial returns. The smallholder-focused project alone could potentially save up to US$60 million in direct food assistance to rural communities – like those living in Kamianka – who struggle to afford food and other basic necessities.

The WFP-FAO project uses satellite imagery to map out potentially mined land, then dispatches specialized teams to survey and clear it – prioritizing productive areas that can be quickly and safely restored. FAO also assesses specific needs of households and offers financial assistance to participants left destitute by the war.

Source: WFP

STATUS OF THE CONFLICT

Russia takes Avdiivka from Ukraine, biggest gain in 9 months

Russia on Sunday said it had full control of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka after Ukraine withdrew though Moscow said that some Ukrainian troops were still holed up in a vast Soviet-era coke plant after one of the most intense battles of the war.

The fall of Avdiivka is Russia's biggest gain since capturing the city of Bakhmut in May 2023, and comes almost two years to the day since President Vladimir Putin triggered a full-scale war by ordering the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's defence ministry said its troops had advanced 8.6 km (5.3 miles) in that part of the 1,000-km (620-mile) front line, and that Russian troops were pressing forward after a deadly urban battle that has left the town an almost completely depopulated wreck.

Ukraine said it had withdrawn its soldiers to save troops from being fully surrounded after months of fierce fighting. Putin hailed the fall of Avdiivka as an important victory and congratulated Russian troops.

After the failure of Ukraine to pierce Russian lines last year, Moscow has been trying to grind down Ukrainian forces just as Kyiv ponders a major new mobilisation and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appoints a new commander to run the war.

But Russia said some Ukrainian forces were still holed up at the Soviet-era coke plant, once one of Europe's biggest, in Avdiivka, which is key to Russia's aim of securing full control of the industrial Donbas region.

There was no public comment yet by Ukrainian authorities on this. Russian state television showed blue and yellow Ukrainian flags being taken down in Avdiivka and Russia's white, blue and red tricolour flag raised, including over the coke plant.

Russia cast the Ukrainian withdrawal as rushed and chaotic, with some soldiers and weapons left behind. The Ukrainian military said there had been casualties but that the situation had stabilised somewhat after the retreat.

Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the full-scale war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on the one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies on the other.

Avdiivka, which is called Avdeyevka by Russians, has endured a decade of conflict. It holds particular symbolism for Russia as it was briefly taken in 2014 by Moscow-backed separatists who seized a swathe of eastern Ukraine but was then recaptured by Ukrainian troops who built extensive fortifications.

WEAPONS SHORTAGES

U.S. President Joe Biden had warned that Avdiivka could fall to Russian forces because of ammunition shortages following months of Republican congressional opposition to a new U.S. military aid package for Kyiv.

A White House statement said Biden called Zelenskiy on Saturday to underscore the U.S. commitment to continue supporting Ukraine and reiterated the need for Congress to urgently pass the package.

The White House said the withdrawal had been forced upon Ukraine "by dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction," that had forced Ukrainian soldiers to ration ammunition and resulted in "Russia’s first notable gains in months".

Zelenskiy urged allies at a global security conference in Munich on Saturday to plug an "artificial" shortage of weapons and said stalled U.S. aid was imperative. He praised his troops for "exhausting" Russian forces in Avdiivka, and suggested the withdrawal was partly caused by a lack of weapons.

Capturing Avdiivka is likely to provide a morale boost for Russia ahead of Putin's bid for re-election next month, which he is almost certain to win. It is also seen as another step towards securing Moscow's hold on the regional centre of Donetsk, about 20 km (12 miles) to the east, held by Russian and pro-Russian forces since 2014.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine have given details of their losses in the war or in the intense battle for Avdiivka. Western intelligence assessments say hundreds of thousands of men on both sides have been killed or wounded in the war.

Putin congratulated the Russian commander in charge of the assault on Avdiivka, Colonel-General Andrei Mordvichev.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said Avdiivka showed the need for modern air defence systems to counter guided bombs and long-range weapons to destroy enemy formations. He said artillery shells were also needed.

Separately, Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian offensive on the southern front in the area of Zaporizhzhia, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday.

There was no comment on that yet from the Russian side.

Source: Reuters

_____________________________________________________

Ukraine needs nearly $9 billion to rebuild its cultural sites and tourism industry, UN agency says

Ukraine will need nearly $9 billion over the next decade to rebuild its cultural sites and tourism industry following Russia’s invasion and war, the United Nations’ cultural agency said Tuesday.

UNESCO estimated that the country’s interlinked culture and tourism sector have lost over $19 billion in revenue during the war that started two years ago this month. The agency said the fighting has damaged 341 cultural sites across Ukraine, including in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and the cities of Lviv in the west and Odesa in the south.

The agency estimated that the total cost of destruction to those cultural sites, and thousands of other “cultural assets” around the country, comes to nearly $3.5 billion.

“The cathedral of Odesa is one example of a site that was gravely damaged,” Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, who heads the UNESCO office in Ukraine, said. ”It’s a symbol of all the community … with deep spiritual and historical meaning.”

In July 2023, UNESCO strongly condemned a “brazen attack carried out by the Russian forces” against historic buildings in the center of Odesa, an area the agency designated last year as an endangered world heritage site. The attack claimed at least two lives and damaged several sites, including the Transfiguration Cathedral.

The cathedral founded in the late 18th century is the main Orthodox church in Odesa. The original structure was destroyed in 1936, during the Soviet era, and it was rebuilt from 1999 to 2003.

UNESCO said the intentional destruction of cultural heritage sites, including religious buildings and artifacts, may amount to a war crime. The International Criminal Court first brought war crimes charges involving purposeful attacks on historic religious monuments and buildings in a case involving Mali in 2015.

Source: AP News

_____________________________________________________

Ukraine witnessing increasing impact of attacks on health and education

Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine, and Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine, released a joint statement deploring the attacks on health and education.

“We are deeply concerned about the recent drastic increase in attacks impacting civilians and civilian objects across Ukraine, in particular health and education facilities.

“Deadly attacks have continued unabated as the full-scale war reaches the end of its second year. Since February 2022, WHO has documented 1552 attacks on health, impacting health providers, supplies, facilities, warehouses and transport, including ambulances. They have claimed at least 112 lives, including health-care workers and patients, and injured many more. These attacks have reportedly damaged or destroyed more than 3800 schools in Ukraine, according to the government.

“These attacks have endangered the lives of children, health-care workers and civilians. They have disrupted access to critical health services and education for thousands, often in areas heavily affected by the war with an already vulnerable population, which includes the elderly, children and people with disabilities.

“Attacks on schools and hospitals and other civilian infrastructure are unacceptable and may be a violation of international humanitarian law.

“The right to medical services and education, especially during times of crisis, must never be denied. Disrupted access to health care increases the risk of illness or death. Disrupted access to education affects the development and well-being of children, placing their future at risk.

“Schools, health facilities and civilians must always be protected to ensure uninterrupted delivery of health and education services to all people in Ukraine. Attacks on civilians and civilian objects must stop. International humanitarian and human rights law must be respected.

Source: WHO

_____________________________________________________

Two Years On, Attacks Against Civilians on the Rise Again

Reduced attention and the deprioritization of the protection of civilians in Ukraine could lead to further harm as Russian attacks continue and precautions to protect civilians remain insufficient, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) warns on the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the invasion, Russian forces have continued to kill and maim civilians across the country. Despite international attention largely having moved on, since December 2023, Russian troops have ramped up their attacks, resulting in even more harm to the population.

Following the recent spike in Russian airstrikes targeting civilian areas, the number of civilian casualties has risen in Ukraine, reversing a year-long trend. In January 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified that at least 641 civilians were killed or injured – a 37 percent increase from the number of civilian casualties recorded in November 2023.

Russia’s continued use of explosive weapons and indiscriminate attacks against civilian areas and infrastructure in Ukraine have heightened harm towards civilians.

As the armed conflict is about to enter its third year, impunity for these attacks has persisted. In light of the continued and mounting risks to civilians and a vacuum of accountability, CIVIC calls on Ukrainian authorities to continue to reinforce civilian protection mechanisms and take other measures to minimize future harms – these include implementing the National Strategy for the Protection of Civilians, the establishment of early warning mechanisms, and the operationalization of civilian harm tracking systems.

Source: CIVIC

UPDATES ON INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

France and Ukraine to sign a security agreement in Paris in the presence of President Zelenskyy

French President Emmanuel Macron will sign a bilateral security agreement with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Friday in Paris to provide “long-term support” to the war-ravaged country which has been battling Russia’s full-scale invasion for nearly two years.

The French presidency said in a statement Thursday that Macron and Zelenskyy’s bilateral meeting in late afternoon will be followed by a news conference and a working dinner at the Elysee presidential palace. It did not release specific details about the agreement.

Macron said earlier this year that France was negotiating a bilateral deal on the model the one Ukraine recently agreed with the United Kingdom, which covers 10 years and provides a package worth 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) over the next fiscal year. It is the largest the U.K. has given to Ukraine since the war began.

A French official, speaking anonymously because he was not allowed to disclosed the details of the deal, said the agreement aims to “provide long-term support” to Ukraine as well as sending a “message of determination.”

He said it was part of a “collective approach” from the Group of Seven most advanced economies, as per commitments made at a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July.

The Group of Seven then vowed to provide weapons and military equipment, including combat airpower, as well as more military training for Ukraine’s beleaguered army. Zelenskyy asked that these assurances last at least until Ukraine joins NATO.

The French-Ukrainian agreement will include financial and economic support, in addition to military and security commitments, the official said.

This will be Zelenskyy’s third visit to Paris since the Russian invasion, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, following his trips in February and May 2023.

He said it was part of a “collective approach” from the Group of Seven most advanced economies, as per commitments made at a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July.

The French-Ukrainian agreement will include financial and economic support, in addition to military and security commitments, the official said.

This will be Zelenskyy’s third visit to Paris since the Russian invasion, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, following his trips in February and May 2023.

Source: AP News

_____________________________________________________

Germany to provide $1.22-bln military support package to Ukraine

As part of a security agreement signed between Germany and Ukraine, Berlin has prepared a further military support package worth 1.13 billion euros ($1.22 billion) that is focused on air defence and artillery, the German defence ministry said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed the security agreement at a ceremony in the German capital on Friday, the same day that the Munich Security Conference was set to kick off in southern Germany.

"Our security agreement with Ukraine is historic. For the first time in its history, the Federal Republic of Germany is acting as a guarantor state," said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in a statement from the ministry.

The so-called Munich Package includes provisions for 120,000 rounds of 122-millimetre calibre artillery ammunition and an additional 100 IRIS-T SLS missiles this year, as well as a second SkyNext air defence system set to be delivered in 2025.

In addition, 18 more self-propelled howitzers will be provided from industry stocks in 2026 and 2027, including training, spare parts and ammunition.

The Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzer is one of the most powerful artillery weapons in Bundeswehr (German military) inventories.

It can hit targets at a distance of 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) with standard ammunition and at a distance of up to 100 kilometres with advanced types of ammunition.

Source: Reuters

_____________________________________________________

Europe show of support for Ukraine

PM says Denmark to donate all its artillery to Ukraine. Denmark has decided to deliver all the artillery rounds from its stockpiles to Ukraine, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told the Ukrainian Lunch at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 17.

Artillery shells are among the most crucial military supplies for Ukraine, as they are used daily in high numbers on the Ukrainian battlefields.

“If you ask Ukrainians, they are asking us for ammunition now, artillery now. From the Danish side, we decided to donate our entire artillery,” Frederiksen said.

“There is still ammunition in European stocks. This is not a question of only production because we have the weapons, we have ammunition, we have air defense that we don’t have to use ourselves at the moment that we should deliver to Ukraine.”

Frederiksen did not specify how many artillery shells Denmark has in its stockpiles.

“Russia does not want peace with us. They are destabilizing the Western world from many different angles -- in the Arctic region, the Balkans, and Africa - with disinformation, cyberattacks, hybrid war, and obviously in Ukraine,” she said.

The EU has said that it would be able to deliver only half of the promised 1 million shells by the March deadline, while defense assistance from the U.S., including artillery support, is held up by domestic political dispu

Speaking to reporters after the Nato defence ministers’ meeting, Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s secretary-general, said “today we accelerated work on resourcing our new defence plans and strengthening our transatlantic defence industrial base.”

“This requires investment, and we are on the right track,” he stressed.

In 2024, European Nato allies will invest a total of 380 billion dollars in defence, he said, noting that for the first time, this amounts to 2% of their total GDP.

The French defence minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said his country’s defence spending will reach 2% of Gross Domestic Product this year.

Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, recently said that the EU aims to deliver more than 1 million shells to Ukraine by the end of 2024.

The same day, Czech President Petr Pavel said that Czechia identified around 800,000 artillery rounds abroad that could be sent to Ukraine within weeks if provided funding from other partners.

Seeing the EU failing on its promise to Kyiv, Czechia has begun pushing a plan to finance the purchase of 450,000 shells outside the bloc jointly, Politico reported on Feb. 1. Prague reportedly suggested that Europe could turn to arm companies in South Korea, Turkey, or South Africa.

Plans to buy ammunition from outside the bloc continue to face opposition from France, Greece, and Cyprus. While Paris hopes to boost its domestic defense industry, Greece and Cyprus do not wish to buy arms from Turkish producers, given their tense relations with Ankara.

Sources: Kyiv Independent

The Guardian

_____________________________________________________

America’s NATO and Asian allies and other European states have committed more money to support Ukraine than the United States.

America’s European, Asian, and NATO allies have committed over $178 billion to support Ukraine, which is more than the US will have committed counting the aid package currently under consideration.

The EU and its member states have made available $148.5 billion (138 billion euros) - including its recently announced support package of $54 billion (50 billion euros) - to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.[7]

The United Kingdom has pledged $15.1 billion (£12 billion) in overall support to Ukraine since February 2022, of which $9 billion (£7.1 billion) is for military assistance.[8]

Canada has committed $1.8 billion (over 2.4 billion Canadian dollars) in military assistance to Ukraine since February 2022.[9] The Canadian military has also has trained approximately 40,000 Ukrainian military and security personnel since 2015, and Canada expanded and extended this program until March 2026.

Norway reached a multi-year agreement with Ukraine in February 2023 for a support program that will provide Ukraine with $7 billion (75 billion Norwegian kroner) between 2023 and 2027.[10] Norway pledged to allocate to Ukraine around $1.4 billion (15 billion Norwegian kroner) per year and had already provided around one billion dollars (10.7 billion Norwegian kroner) to Ukraine in 2022 and about $1.9 billion (19.9 billion Norwegian kroner) in 2023.

NATO member Turkey is building a new drone production facility and service center in Ukraine. Turkey’s leading drone maker, Baykar, announced in September 2023 that Turkey would open a drone production facility and service center for Bayraktar TB2 drones, which reportedly will become operational by early 2025.

NATO member North Macedonia has sent 10 batches of military aid to Ukraine including Soviet-era military equipment as of November 2023.[12] North Macedonia is also training batches of Ukrainian military personnel and pledged to continue supporting Ukraine.

South Korea is expanding its production of critical 155mm artillery shells to refill Western stockpiles and support the continued provision of ammunition in Ukraine.

Japan pledged $4.5 billion to Ukraine in December 2023. Japan also pledged an additional $37 million contribution to a NATO fund to provide additional support for Ukrainian defense in January 2024.

Australia provided approximately $590 million (910 million Australian dollars) in overall military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine as of late October 2023.

New Zealand provided Ukraine with more than $48.7 million (80 million New Zealand dollars) in military and humanitarian assistance as of July 2023.

Source: ISW

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

Angelus - February 18, 2024 (Sunday)

The violence against defenceless populations, the destruction of infrastructure, and insecurity are again rampant in the province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, where the Catholic mission of Our Lady of Africa in Mazezeze was also set on fire in recent days. Let us pray for peace to return to that tormented region. And let us not forget so many other conflicts that stain the African continent and many parts of the world with blood: also Europe, Palestine, Ukraine...

La violenza contro popolazioni inermi, la distruzione di infrastrutture e l’insicurezza dilagano nuovamente nella provincia di Cabo Delgado, in Mozambico, dove nei giorni scorsi è stata anche incendiata la missione cattolica di Nostra Signora d’Africa a Mazeze. Preghiamo perché la pace torni in quella regione martoriata. E non dimentichiamo tanti altri conflitti che insanguinano il Continente africano e molte parti del mondo: anche l’Europa, la Palestina, l’Ucraina…

Links to the full text in ENGLISH and ITALIAN

General Audience - February 14, 2024

Lastly, my thoughts turn to young people, to the elderly, to the sick and to newlyweds. Lent begins today. Let us prepare ourselves to experience this time as an opportunity for conversion and inner renewal, in listening to the Word of God, and in caring for our brothers and sisters who are most in need. And let us never forget tormented Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, which are all suffering a great deal. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours who are suffering due to war. Let us move forward in the process of conversion, in listening to the Word of God, in caring for our brothers and sisters in need; and let us move forward in intensifying our prayers, especially to ask for peace in the world.

Il mio pensiero infine è per i giovani, gli anziani, gli ammalati e gli sposi novelli. Oggi inizia la Quaresima, disponiamoci a percorrere questo tempo come occasione di conversione e di rinnovamento interiore nell’ascolto della Parola di Dio, nella cura dei fratelli che più necessitano. E non dimentichiamo mai la martoriata Ucraina, la Palestina e Israele che soffrono tanto. Preghiamo per questi fratelli e sorelle che soffrono a causa della guerra. Andiamo avanti nel processo di conversione, nell’ascolto della Parola di Dio, nella cura dei fratelli che necessitano e andiamo avanti nell’intensificare la preghiera, soprattutto per chiedere la pace nel mondo.

Links to the full text in ENGLISH and ITALIAN