Weekly Update #133
September 16, 2024

General Figures

Refugees from Ukraine recorded across Europe 

6,168,100

Last updated August 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

571,300

Last updated August 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 globally

6,739,400

Last updated August 19 2024

Source: UNHCR collation of statistics made available by the authorities

Humanitarian Impact of Intensified Hostilities in Donetska and Sumska Oblasts - Flash Update #8 (13 Sep 2024)

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Over the past week, hostilities in Donetska Oblast, along with increased attacks in parts of neighbouring Kharkivska and Sumska oblasts, resulted in civilians being killed and injured, including aid workers. Significant damage to civilian infrastructure resulted in several urban centres being left without critical services, further worsening the already dire humanitarian situation. Also, wildfires ravaging parts of Kharkivska and Donetska oblasts destroyed homes and livelihoods, triggering new displacements.

Attacks in populated areas of Donetska, Kharkivska and Sumska oblasts caused dozens of civilian casualties, according to authorities and partners. Children were injured in Liubotyn, Kharkivska Oblast, and in Sumy City. On 12 September, a deadly strike at a planned aid distribution point in Viroliubivka Village in Donetska Oblast killed three staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross when the team was preparing to distribute wood and coal briquettes ahead of the winter. Two staff were also injured. Another attack on Konotop in Sumska Oblast on the same day injured civilians and left parts of the town without electricity and water supply.

Donetska Oblast suffered large-scale damage to critical civilian infrastructure, homes, schools and health facilities. WASH Cluster confirmed that the pumping station providing water to Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad towns stopped functioning. On 12 September, the authorities reported that a modular water treatment plant in Pokrovsk also stopped working due to an attack. Furthermore, the power and water supply were disrupted in Kostiantynivka town and nearby villages. Earlier, the local authorities reported that around 28,000 residents in Pokrovska Hromada were left without a gas supply.

Critical health services were also affected. The Health Cluster reported that security concerns forced seven health facilities in Donetska Oblast to relocate to other oblasts while two moved within the oblast. In Sumska Oblast, an attack injured children and damaged a Centre for Children Social and Psychological Rehabilitation. Additionally, the Cluster noted a significant strain on the health facilities in the oblast due to an influx of injured patients and the need for mental health and psychosocial support, as flagged by the Centre for Disaster Medicine in Kharkivska Oblast.

Amidst the hostilities, civilians continued to evacuate from front-line hromadas in Donetska Oblast. Humanitarians also noted an increase in the number of people fleeing from Kupianskyi Raion in Kharkivska Oblast. On 12 September, the authorities announced the mandatory evacuation of some 270 children with caregivers from 29 towns and villages in Kindrashivska, Kupianska and Kurylivska hromadas in Kharkivska Oblast.

Wildfires in parts of Kharkivska and Donetsk oblasts, caused by a combined impact of heat in forested areas and hostilities, have burnt over 5,000 hectares of forested area, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Firefighters faced significant challenges in extinguishing the fire due to heavy contamination from unexploded ordinance and explosive remnants of war in the affected area. Fires damaged approximately 300 houses, with nearly 100 destroyed in the village of Studenok in Kharkivska Oblast. Some 800 people, including around 70 children, have been displaced, as reported by the aid organizations that visited the affected areas. In Donetska Oblast, the wildfire also affected over 40 families in Yarova Town.

Protection Cluster partners note that most evacuees indicate their intention to remain close to their hromadas rather than move on to other parts of Ukraine. This trend, also observed during previous evacuations, leads to growing demand for public services in hosting areas with an already high number of displaced people. Family separation was also identified as a consequence of the recent evacuations, often because male heads of households chose to stay behind. Partners also reported gaps in the ability of social workers to provide assistance and support to older people in need of intensive care.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Aid organizations continued to provide immediate assistance to displaced people from front-line hromadas in Donetska Oblast and border hromadas in Kharkivska Oblast at transit centres, including accommodation, transportation and relocation to safer parts of the country. Assistance is also provided to vulnerable people in front-line hromadas in Kharkivska Oblast. On 11 September, an inter-agency convoy to Kharkivska Oblast, with the support of the Logistics Cluster, delivered essential hygiene supplies to the war-affected residents of Vovchanska Hromada, mostly older people.

Highlights of Cluster Responses Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster partners assisted more than 800 people in Pavlohrad Transit Centre, including 80 people with disabilities and 120 children, who had evacuated from within Donetska Oblast since 30 August. The Cluster maintained a daily presence at the centre since its opening, supporting the registration of people and facilitating referrals to ensure effective multi-sectoral response by coordinating with partners on the ground. Available assistance included hot meals, psychological support, hygiene kits, cash registration and legal counselling.

In Donetska Oblast, eight Child Protection partners continued to provide child protection services to displaced children and families, including case management activities, cash assistance for protection, emergency case management, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and in-kind assistance, including clothing. However, one partner paused its services for the children in the oblast due to heightened security concerns. At the Pavlohrad Transit Centre, one Child Protection partner is at the transit centre daily, providing psychosocial support, case management and in-kind assistance, including clothing, recreational materials and awareness-raising sessions for children and families.

Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster partners continued to support evacuees at the Kharkiv Transit Centre. Since 31 August, the number of displaced people has increased due to the deteriorating security situation in and around Kupiansk. Every day, nearly 100 people received hot meals, ready-to-eat rations and monthly food kits at the centre. At the Pavlohrad Transit Centre in Dnipropetrovska Oblast, displaced people from Donetska Oblast received hot meals and ready-to-eat rations while in transit and were registered before being transported further on evacuation trains.

Health Cluster has provided 150 primary health-care consultations and 40 mental health and psychosocial support consultations at the transit centre in Kharkivska Oblast. Three cluster partners were active at the Pavlohrad Transit Centre and two at the Kramatorsk Transit Centre in Donetska Oblast. Over the past week, cluster partners at the Pavlohrad Transit Centre provided consultations to 220 people, including 40 children. In Kharkivska Oblast, over 40 cluster partners are involved in the health response, ensuring access to health care.

Protection Cluster partners indicated that at least 20 per cent of the evacuees arriving at transit centres required protection services, particularly legal aid (supporting access to documentation and social assistance) and different modalities of psychosocial support. The cluster continued to update and share information on the available services in safer areas and the evacuation process to address the limited understanding of procedures and available options for those evacuating.

Three Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI) Cluster partners provided emergency shelter materials to approximately 600 families in Donetska Oblast between 1 and 12 September. Two partners provided solar lamps and blankets to more than 130 families whose homes had been severely damaged by heavy air strikes in Dobropilska, Pokrovska and Slovianska hromadas. As of 12 September, two organizations had reached 190 families with in-kind distribution of solid fuel. Repair interventions continued in the oblast as the cluster coordinated interventions to close the thermal envelope of residential buildings ahead of winter. One Cluster partner provided supplies for more sleeping spaces in transit centres and temporary evacuation points in Donetska Oblast.  Four organizations have already completed distributions of solid fuel or cash equivalent in Kharkivska Oblast for almost 3,700 families. Cluster partners also continued to provide light and medium repairs throughout the oblast. In response to the wildfires in Oskilska Hromada, which burned houses in the village of Studenok in Kharkivska Oblast, a Shelter and NFI Cluster partner provided emergency shelter kits to 50 families.

Humanitarian Response in Central and Western Oblasts

Dnipro City: The CCCM Cluster is working with local authorities to support evacuees at the three active interim evacuation points in Dnipro City, offering those displaced overnight accommodation until they relocate to other oblasts. 

Dnipropetrovska Oblast: In other raions of Dnipropetrovska Oblast, including Kryvorizkyi Raion, five Child Protection partners provided displaced children and families with case management, cash for protection, emergency case management funding, PSS kits, individual and group psychosocial support in child-friendly spaces, MHPSS and in-kind assistance with clothing. As of 11 September, 321 evacuees were hosted at 27 collective sites managed by a CCCM Cluster partner, including 142 evacuees across 14 collective sites in Dnipropetrovska Oblast.

Lvivska Oblast: Authorities reported receiving almost 300 displaced people through evacuations from Donetska Oblast; many of the evacuees are people with disabilities, single mothers and older people. Coordination Centres met the evacuees at Lviv railway station and supported them with case management, MHPSS and accommodation in collective sites. 

Source: OCHA

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Finn Church Aid strengthens Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ukraine amidst conflict

In response to the severe disruption caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, FCA is leading a project to rehabilitate and modernise Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres across the country.

With a budget of USD 2.4 million, this initiative, supported by Education Cannot Wait, aims to enhance vocational education and improve employment prospects for young people and internally displaced persons.

THE TVET PROJECT focuses on key areas such as infrastructure rehabilitation, teacher training, and the provision of mental health and psychosocial support. Activities are concentrated in the Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Poltava regions.

Rebuilding for the Future

The conflict has severely damaged Ukraine’s educational infrastructure, particularly TVET centres that are essential for providing vocational skills. FCA’s project is designed to tackle these challenges by:

• Renovating TVET centres to make them more functional and appealing to students.

• Equipping these centres with essential tools and simulation equipment for various trades.

• Upgrading shelters within TVET centres to ensure the safety of students and staff.

FCA Ukraine Director noted that with most vocational schools being destroyed or damaged, especially in Eastern and Northern Ukraine, the need is strong for restoring the capacity of educational institutions.

Psychosocial support and labour market connections

In addition to physical upgrades, FCA is investing in the people who make TVET centres thrive. The project will provide training for teachers on curriculum development and the latest pedagogical techniques, with Finnish experts delivering modules both online and in person. The initiative also includes short-term psychosocial support programmes for both teachers and students, helping them cope with the stress and trauma caused by the ongoing conflict.

Recognising the importance of employability, the project seeks to build strong connections between TVET centres and the local labour market. Events will be organised to link students with potential employers, ensuring they are better prepared for future job opportunities or entrepreneurship.

A more resilient TVET sector

FCA’s project will directly benefit at least 900 students through infrastructure improvements and 1,200 individuals through soft components such as teacher training and mental health support. By creating a more resilient and capable TVET system, FCA aims to contribute not only to the immediate educational needs but also to the long-term recovery and development of Ukraine.

This initiative aligns with ongoing national reforms in the TVET sector and is implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Source: FCA

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Habitat for Humanity strengthens its operations in Ukraine with new branch to support reconstruction and housing needs

Habitat for Humanity, a global leader in affordable housing and community development, is proud to announce the official opening of its new branch in Ukraine. This expansion comes at a crucial time as the nation faces an unprecedented need for housing reconstruction and development following the ongoing war and displacement. The new branch will focus on providing safe, affordable housing, rebuilding damaged homes, and enhancing community resilience through local partnerships and advocacy for effective housing policies. It will prioritize the most vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and low-income families, and will work closely with local NGOs, private sector, and local authorities to ensure that reconstruction efforts align with sustainable development goals.

“The opening of Habitat for Humanity in Ukraine marks a critical expansion of our efforts in Europe. By establishing a strong presence here, we are not only addressing immediate housing needs but also contributing to the long-term stability and growth of communities. This move reflects our deep commitment to supporting the region as it rebuilds and thrives,” commented Rick Hathaway, Vice-President for Europe and the Middle East at Habitat for Humanity.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Habitat for Humanity has provided assistance to thousands of refugees from the region. Habitat has been responding to the crisis from day one, offering refugees emergency services and helping them find short-, mid-, and long-term accommodation in neighboring countries by supporting housing arrangements with host families, refurbishing and furnishing communal spaces, repurposing empty spaces, subsidizing rentals, and running social rental programs.

Habitat for Humanity has also been active in Ukraine, contributing to emergency response efforts and supporting displaced families. Through partnerships with local and international entities in Ukraine, we have successfully supported vulnerable families with direct repairs and winterization upgrades, along with repairs to vital community infrastructure in the hardest-hit regions. Additionally, we are supporting war-affected communities by modernizing multi-apartment buildings to be energy-efficient and upgrading basements to provide safe shelter from missile attacks. The new branch will build on this foundation, scaling up operations to meet the growing needs of communities across Ukraine.

The organization’s work in Ukraine will also focus on empowering local communities by providing training in construction, advocating for inclusive housing policies, and fostering partnerships with both public and private sectors. By working closely with Ukrainian grassroots organizations, Habitat for Humanity aims to strengthen the capacity of local actors and ensure the sustainability of its projects.

Source: Habitat for Humanity

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In Dobromyl, Lviv region, a new shelter for IDPs has been opened with the support of the Ukrainian Red Cross

This new shelter in Dobromyl will provide temporary accommodation for 192 more people who have lost their homes due to the war.

The project was made possible thanks to funding from the Austrian Red Cross, the Austrian Development Agency, and the support of the Nachbar in Not (Neighbour in Need) nonprofit foundation. In cooperation with the Lviv regional branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross, the Lviv Regional Military Administration, and local authorities, comfortable conditions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been created.

The opening was attended by representatives of the Western Interregional Office of the National Committee of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS), including its head, Volodymyr Havryliuk, and Hanna Koval, legal adviser. Also present were Ivan Semerak, head of the Lviv regional branch, Vahram Vardanyan and Mykhailo Danilov from the Austrian Red Cross, and representatives of the Lviv Regional Military Administration.

The building, previously the administrative facility of Nyzhankovychi Vocational Lyceum and unused for two years, has undergone major repairs. A total of UAH 17.5 million was allocated for the renovation, with over UAH 4 million spent on purchasing necessary equipment. The Lviv Regional Military Administration replaced the roof, windows, heating, and drainage systems, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the project.

The building was renovated as part of the Shelter Plus project, initiated by the Ukrainian Red Cross, the Austrian Red Cross, local authorities, and the Lviv Regional Military Administration. As a result, ten facilities with over 500 beds have been renovated in the Lviv region to meet shelter needs. Additionally, the surgical department of the municipal non-profit Dobromyl City Hospital, which has more than 40 beds, has also been repaired and re-equipped.

Source: Ukrainian Red Cross Society

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Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Calls for Education to be Protected and Resourced as Children Across Ukraine Enter Third School Year Under War

The education of 4 million children has been disrupted, with some 600,000 children not able to access in-person learning due to ongoing fighting, attacks and displacement.

On a high-level UN mission to Ukraine this week, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) leadership met with girls and boys impacted by the brutal war and partners on the ground to better understand how the education of some 4 million children across Ukraine has been disrupted.

The visit concluded at the Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen with ECW calling on world leaders to commit to protecting education from attack and to scale-up funding to provide life-saving access to safer in-person classes, remote learning opportunities when necessary, and remedial catch-up classes, driven by quality and inclusive education.

ECW and its strategic donor partners have provided more than US$26.9 million in funding to support quality, holistic education programmes in Ukraine since 2017. Delivered by a consortium of partners including Finn Church Aid, the Kyiv School of Economics, Save the Children and UNICEF – in coordination with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science – the programmes have reached more than 360,000 children, about 65% of whom are girls.

“The support from Education Cannot Wait is critical for children, their parents and teachers who are doing everything they can to keep classrooms open and to continue in-person learning despite the impact of the war across the country,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine.

ECW’s support includes a US$20.4 million allocation to roll out a Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Ukraine. The investment seeks to mobilize millions more in additional funding and reach more than 150,000 children across 10 of Ukraine’s most-impacted areas.

The investments work to improve learning outcomes by providing safer and more accessible physical learning environments, expanding digital learning initiatives and providing alternative education opportunities. To address the challenges facing the girls and boys who are living through this ongoing conflict, there is also a strong focus on mental health and psychosocial support, and targeted support for girls and children living with disabilities.

At last year’s Education Cannot Wait High-Level Financing Conference, the Global Business Coalition for Education (GBCE) pledged to mobilize US$50 million from the business community in support of ECW’s four-year strategic plan. In partnership with GBCE, TheirWorld, HP and Microsoft, US$39 million in partnership and device donation for ECW has already been mobilized, and over 70,000 laptops have been shared with schools, teachers and other people in need, both inside Ukraine and in neighboring countries.

Since the start of the school year in early September, deadly and destructive attacks have again affected education facilities across Ukraine. Approximately 600,000 school-aged children are not able to access in-person learning, and since the start of the war over 1,300 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed, according to UNICEF. Even when children are in school, the constant threat of bombings and attacks is disrupting the quality and continuity of education for children who have been pushed from their homes, lost loved ones in the fighting, and live under constant threat.

Education Cannot Wait and its strategic partners are calling for US$600 million in additional funding to deliver on the global targets outlined in the Fund’s four-year strategic plan to provide children in crisis-impacted countries everywhere with quality, holistic education, and the hope for a better tomorrow.

Source: ECW

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Rebuilding War-Damaged Schools is Crucial to Children’s Development

In frontline areas of Ukraine, two-thirds of children are unable to physically attend school. Teachers across the country, according to UNICEF, report declines in students’ language and math skills. Beyond academics, schools are crucial social spaces where children form friendships, engage in physical activity, and learn essential life skills like teamwork and problem-solving.

DCA/NCA Ukraine, in partnership with ADRA and with funding from Danida, is working to rebuild schools, educational institutions, and kindergartens in Snihurivka. Once repairs are complete, bomb shelters constructed, and classrooms restored, students will be able to return to school, at least part-time.

Reopening educational institutions is vital. The prolonged shift to online learning has had a detrimental effect on children’s well-being, mental health, and academic growth. Without intervention, this disruption could have lasting consequences for both the children and Ukraine’s future.

Another priority for the DCA/NCA and ADRA partnership is the reconstruction of preschools in Snihurivka. According to UNICEF, two-thirds of preschool-aged children in Ukraine are not currently attending school, and in frontline areas, this number rises to three-quarters.

Rebuilding schools and educational institutions in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, is essential since the war has severely damaged many of them, disrupting children’s education and well-being. Functional schools are vital for children’s learning and future prospects, as well as the country’s overall recovery. The rebuilding is done by completing light and medium repairs and reconstruction of social infrastructure and educational institutions, which are still damaged, allowing for a return to use of these institutions.

Furthermore, there are still very diverse needs for the war-affected population in Mykolaiv, located close to the frontline. To address this, DCA Ukraine provides grants of 15,000 EUR to local initiatives. These grants offer flexible support to meet the specific needs of the community, ensuring that urgent issues are addressed. By supporting local projects, we empower the community to lead their own recovery and build a stronger, more resilient future.

The project is financed by Danida and implemented in partnership with Ukrainian Education Platform, ADRA Denmark, and ADRA Ukraine.

Source: DCA

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WHO, with USAID and Germany, donates 23 ambulances to Ukraine for critical patients amid the war

WHO, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Germany, has donated 23 ambulances to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to enable the provision of emergency medical care to patients during the war. These ambulances will serve as mobile intensive care units, designed primarily for transporting critical patients to hospitals and between hospital facilities.

Each ambulance is specifically equipped with defibrillators, monitors, lung ventilators, medical oxygen delivery systems, infusion pumps, electrocardiogram machines, a variety of stretchers, trauma care equipment and other life-saving gear, enabling the provision of highly specialized and essential care for patients who require additional life-support during transportation.

The ambulances will be distributed throughout the country, including but not limited to Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia regions.

The Ukraine Minister of Health highlighted that nearly 600 ambulances have been destroyed, damaged or lost.

Germany is the second largest bilateral donor after the US.  The German Hospital Partnership Programme builds a growing network of 30 German and 19 Ukrainian hospitals in 19 oblasts.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, 137 ambulances have been donated to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine by WHO and its partners.

Source: WHO

Source: ACAPS

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Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict - August 2024

Attacks by Russian armed forces since 26 August have caused extensive civilian harm across Ukraine, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said today. HRMMU has verified that attacks in government-controlled territory since then have killed 64 civilians, injured 392, and caused significant damage and destruction to civilian property and infrastructure.

The high casualty numbers follow a sharp increase in civilian deaths and injuries over the summer. HRMMU’s monthly update on civilian harm, published today, shows that 184 civilians were killed and 856 injured in August alone, the second highest monthly casualty number in 2024 after July.

“Powerful missiles and bombs have struck populated areas, killing and injuring civilians across the country”, said Head of HRMMU Danielle Bell. “Targeted attacks on Ukraine's electricity infrastructure have again triggered lengthy nationwide power cuts while recent attacks have destroyed or damaged hospitals, schools, supermarkets, and critical energy infrastructure.”

On 26 August, Russian armed forces launched one of the largest coordinated aerial attacks across Ukraine since February 2022. The attack killed eight civilians and injured at least 23, in addition to damaging at least twenty-five energy facilities 15 regions of Ukraine.

Subsequent attacks across Ukraine have also resulted in numerous civilian casualties. On 30 August, for example, aerial bombs struck four districts of Kharkiv city, killing 6 civilians and injuring at least 44. On 1 September, multiple missiles struck Kharkiv city, killing one medical worker and injuring at least 11 civilians. On 4 September, attacks with multiple weapons killed seven civilians and injured 62 in Lviv city, in the city’s first civilian casualty incident since February 2024.

While the vast majority of civilian casualties have occurred in areas controlled by Ukraine, HRMMU has also recorded reports of civilian casualties in territory occupied by the Russian Federation and in the Russian Federation. For example, on 4 September, an attack struck a market in occupied Donetsk city, killing four civilians, including two children, and injuring another seven civilians. An attack on Belgorod city in the Russian Federation on 30 August killed 5 persons and injured dozens according to local reports. HRMMU has not been able to verify the Belgorod figures.

Attacks since 26 August have killed 6 and injured 43 children during the back-to-school period. For example, a girl was among the seven killed in the 4 September attack in the western city of Lviv which also killed her mother, her two sisters aged 18 and 21 and injured their father. The same damaged three schools, only two days after Ukrainian children returned to school.

Source: OHCHR

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First day of school in Ukraine marred by attacks

The start of the new school year in Ukraine was marred by deadly and destructive attacks, further impacting learning for children in the country. 

In Kyiv, schools were reportedly damaged as children woke up to loud explosions in the early morning hours of Monday. 

On the eve of the first day of school, educational facilities were reportedly damaged in the Kherson region and in the city of Sumy, where six children were injured according to local authorities. This comes after successive deadly attacks in the city of Kharkiv on 30 August and 1 September, where one child was killed, and 29 children were injured according to latest reports.

Since the escalation of the war in February 2022, more than 2,180 children have been killed or injured, and more than 1,300 educational facilities in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. As these are UN-verified numbers, the true numbers are likely higher. 

Children in Ukraine are entering a fifth year of disrupted education, with the escalation of the war now in its third year following the COVID-19 pandemic. Children across Ukraine are showing signs of widespread learning loss. Data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted in Ukraine in 2022 and released in late 2023, show that the scale of learning gaps seen in 2022 compared to 2018 is equivalent to two years of loss in reading and one year of loss in math. 

Children and families in front-line areas in Donetsk and Sumy regions are being displaced amid intensified hostilities. As of 31 August 2024, local authorities in the Donetsk region reported evacuating 3,500 civilians, including 400 children, daily. An increase in evacuations from the border area in Sumy region was also reported. With the evacuations continuing through the first week of school, children on the move could be missing school days or online lessons as they seek safety in other parts of Ukraine.

Constant air raid alarms force children to move to shelters, disrupting their classes and their sleep. Attacks impact the electricity supply in the country, causing power outages that disrupt classes in schools and access to online learning.

According to data from the Ministry of Education and Science, as of May 2024, around 4.6 million children in Ukraine face barriers to education—including about 2 million who are directly affected by school and kindergarten closures. Most schools in the Eastern regions close to areas with active fighting have remained closed. 

The new “School Offline” strategy of the Ukrainian Government aims to return around 350,000 children to in-person and blended learning where it is possible and safe to do so. For areas where this is not possible, the strategy aims to improve the quality of distance learning. 

UNICEF is helping ensure children in Ukraine can access formal and non-formal education, including early learning, by supporting the rehabilitation of shelters in schools and kindergartens, providing learning supplies and equipment, conducting catch-up classes, establishing digital learning centres, and equipping teachers with skills to provide mental health and psychosocial support to their students.

Source: UNICEF

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Russian Campaign Assessment

• The Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Oblast has reportedly spoiled planned Russian offensive operations along the international border area that likely aimed to expand the area of active combat operations across a broader front in northeastern Ukraine.

Russian forces continue to counterattack throughout the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast, but the Russian military will likely have to redeploy additional elements from elsewhere in the theater to Kursk Oblast to establish a force grouping capable of pursuing a sustained counteroffensive operation.

Russian forces appear to be testing more effective mechanized assault tactics west of Donetsk City, although Russian armored vehicles remain vulnerable to Ukrainian strike and drone capabilities.

• Russia continues efforts to strengthen strategic military ties with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), North Korea, and Iran to support its war effort in Ukraine. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin traveled to Beijing on September 13 to partake in the Xiangshan Forum where he highlighted the deepening strategic partnership between Russia and the PRC.  Fomin emphasized Russian-PRC plans for over 100 joint military cooperation events in 2024, blamed NATO and the US for intensifying the war in Ukraine, and criticized the US for pursuing an alleged dual containment policy of Russia and the PRC.

Source: ISW

United States Announces Additional Funding for Conflict-Affected Populations in Ukraine and the Region

On September 11, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced nearly $290 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help address urgent needs caused by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This additional funding includes $100 million through USAID and nearly $190 million from the U.S. Department of State.

The additional humanitarian funding announced today, including funding from the bipartisan National Security Supplemental, will help USAID’s UN and nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners provide urgently needed assistance to conflict-affected populations in Ukraine. This funding helps displaced Ukrainians and other vulnerable groups access basic resources, including food and shelter. This funding also includes support for winter preparedness efforts with winter rapidly approaching. In addition, this funding supports community health services such as disease prevention, psychosocial assistance, and assistance for survivors of gender-based violence as well as the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, which helps provide vital protection assistance to women and girls, and women-led civil society organizations.

The U.S. Department of State funding will provide the people of Ukraine, both inside Ukraine and in the region, with critical support, including through the provision of food, safe drinking water, accessible shelter, health care, protection services, education, livelihoods, and legal assistance through the support of international organizations in Ukraine and the region. These funds also help victims of the war maintain contact with family members who have been separated and promote family reunification when possible.

This announcement brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since February 2022 to more than $3.5 billion, including nearly $669 million since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2024. As the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance, the United States remains committed to supporting the Ukrainian people and helping to provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance to save lives and meet needs exacerbated by Russia’s relentless attacks, as well as supporting resilience for future recovery. The United States’ ongoing support for Ukraine reflects our commitment to its sovereignty, economic prosperity, and democratic institutions.

Source: USAID