Weekly Update #74
July 31

General Figures

Refugees from Ukraine recorded across Europe 

5,861,300

Last updated July 25 2023

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

356,500

Last updated July 15 2023

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

6,217,800

Last updated July 25 2023

Source: UNHCR collation of statistics made available by the authorities

Ukraine counter-offensive continues

The counteroffensive efforts have begun to show more progress, although Ukrainian reports are reportedly more cautious in describing these initiatives.

• Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front on July 27 and made gains in some areas, although Ukrainian forces appear not to have continued significant mechanized assaults south of Orikhiv in western Zaporizhia Oblast. Ukrainian forces repelled the Russian offensive in the Kupiansk sector, aimed to seize advantageous elevated positions in the flat terrain.

•  The intense fighting is taking place in areas in the south and east of Ukraine, far from the capital Kyiv, and it was not possible to verify either side’s claims. Kyiv is said to have launched a major push against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine.  According to the report, the counteroffensive has successfully penetrated Russian defensive lines in the southeast. And the reserve units have been swiftly deployed to capitalize on this opportunity.

• Kyiv has launched a major push to dislodge Russian forces from southeastern Ukraine as part of its weeks-long counteroffensive, committing thousands of troops to the battle in the country’s southeast, according to Western and Ukrainian officials and analysts.

• On the eastern front, Ukrainian forces are gradually advancing south of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, repelling Russian attacks north of the city, reported by the Defense Ministry on July 27.

• Severe fighting was ongoing near Klischiivka, Kurdiumivka, and Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian forces also repelled Russian attacks in the Lyman, Adviivka, and Marinka sectors, according to the General Staff.   Ukrainian forces are driving the counteroffensive in the eastern Donetsk and southern Zaporizhzhia oblasts, operating on multiple fronts. They have achieved some partial gains since starting in early June, thus slower than expected.

• Ukraine’s top commander on the southern front says his forces are making some progress in driving back Russian troops, as Kyiv’s counteroffensive appears to be entering a more aggressive new phase. Intense, ongoing combat is taking place in southern parts of Donetsk and the Zaporizhzhia region.

• Meantime, Russian attacks continued in Kherson and Kharkiv Oblasts, including Zaporizhzhia.  The Russian overnight July 23 attack with 19 missiles against Odesa's historic center killed two and injured 22 civilians. The attack also damaged 25 historic buildings, including the historic Transfiguration Cathedral.

Sources: ISW (July 27 Update)

Kyiv Independent

Independent

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Russia’s positioning in Africa

Russian President Putin met with several African leaders at the Russia-Africa Humanitarian Forum, including Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Dambuzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, and President of Comoros Azali Assoumani.

During his speech at the plenary session of the forum, Putin emphasized the importance of expanding Russian–African cooperation and Russia’s investment in the development of African nations, notably accusing Ukraine and the West of interfering with Russia’s supply of grain and fertilizers to the African continent and claiming that Russia will provide between 25 and 50 thousand tons of grain free of charge to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somali, Central African Republic, and Eritrea over the coming months.

Putin announced that Russia is helping to develop over 30 energy infrastructure projects in 16 African states and called for an expansion of cultural and social integration between Russia and the African continent, stating that Russia plans to open branches of Russian universities in Africa and increase enrollment of African students in Russian educational institutions.

Beyond the typical diplomatic platitudes and promises of continued cooperation and development, Putin’s rhetoric during the Russia-Africa forum does not represent a major inflection in the Kremlin’s policy toward the African continent. Putin previously signed an article published on July 24 to posture Russia’s commitment to African development and mitigate damage done to Russia’s position in Africa and his personal reputation with African leaders.

Putin’s and the Russian government’s reputations likely suffered due to a number of recent factors: Russia’s recent withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure (both of which were critical for grain exports to various African countries) and his inability to attend the upcoming BRICS summit because of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against him.

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Senegalese President Macky Sall, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Mahamat all appealed to Putin to consider a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin is likely trying to portray itself as considering the peace plan to promote ongoing Russian information operations that feign interest in a negotiated settlement while aiming to slow Western security assistance to Ukraine.  The Kremlin is also likely using the proposal to pursue strengthened bilateral and multilateral engagement with African states as part of an overall effort to present itself as a more attractive ally than the collective West.  The Kremlin has not demonstrated any intent to engage with any peace process meaningfully.

Sources: ISW (July 27 Update)

ISW (July 28 Update)

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Concerns mount over potential for food crisis amid Russian moves to cripple Ukrainian grain exports

The US and its allies are grappling with how to avert a global food crisis following Moscow’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal and its subsequent attacks on Ukraine’s ports and storage facilities.

To keep Ukraine’s massive farming industry afloat, and with the harvest only a few months away, US and Western officials are looking for any options to increase storage capacity, and whether any more grain, wheat or barley can be driven or railed out of Ukraine.

Over the past several days, a number of urgent meetings have been convened by organizations including the United Nations, NATO, and the European Commission. There have been new pledges of support for Ukraine’s agricultural industry, including a new $250 million commitment from the US Agency for International Development.

But officials acknowledge that none of those solutions will be able to replace the millions of tons of food Ukraine was able to export from its deep water ports.

Since leaving the grain deal on July 17, Russia has unleashed a flurry of attacks on grain supplies in key Ukrainian cities, including the port city of Odesa, wiping out 60,000 tons of grain, enough to feed 270,000 people for a year, British Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward said last Friday.

Moscow’s attack last week on Ukraine’s Chornomorsk port, which “facilitates nearly 70 percent of Ukrainian wheat exports to developing countries, caused damage that experts say will take at least a year to repair,” UN Ambassador to the United Nations Linda-Thomas Greenfield said Wednesday.

Ukraine accounts for large portions of the world’s food supply, including 10% of the world wheat market, 15% of the corn market, and 13% of the barley market, according to the European Commission. Two thirds of the wheat that left Ukraine via the Black Sea ports went to developing countries.

Source: CNN

During the period covered by this report (1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023), 12 DEC member charities working in partnership with local organisations have been contributing to the humanitarian response in Ukraine. The need for basic items and services remained high and helping people to meet their immediate needs – through cash assistance and food, shelter and hygiene support continued to be a priority. With no end in sight to the conflict, DEC member charities have also been working to strengthen the capacity of local partners, to help build resilience and ensure local leadership in the ongoing humanitarian response.

The comprehensive response covered seven areas of work in Ukraine and other neighboring countries, including Moldova, Romania, Poland, and Hungary.

• Cash assistance

• Water, sanitation and hygiene

• Localised, person-centred response

• Education

• Information, advice and wellbeing support

• Winterisation

• Protection

The DEC’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal remained open throughout the reporting period and during that time raised a total of £25.1 million, with £15.8 million coming direct to the DEC and £9.3 million being donated to the DEC’s member charities under the shared appeal branding. This meant that at the end of February 2023, the appeal total stood at £414.5 million, including £25 million in Aid Match from the UK Government.

Source: DEC

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Saving Ukrainian Lives Through Training Frontline Medics

While the US’s military aid often grabs the headlines, medical contributions are also important for Ukraine to fight for its freedom. Healthcare organizations worldwide have contributed volunteer doctors, donated medical supplies, performed emergency services, served on the frontlines, and provided training for Ukraine’s future healthcare providers. This medical training not only helps save lives on the frontlines, but everyday citizens are affected by both war and non-war-related ailments.

As its volunteers return from another Resiliency Medical Mission (RMM) in Ukraine in June, MedGlobal, a humanitarian NGO that provides emergency response and health programs to disaster-affected and low-resource settings, has trained over 1,077 health professionals and 119 hospitals in Ukraine since the start of the war. MedGlobal has implemented a variety of training for healthcare professionals and trainers in Ukraine, including management of polytrauma, management of victims of chemical weapons, mental health training, basic life support (BLS), and diagnosis using point of care ultrasound (POCUS). MedGlobal was also the first NGO to visit Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and donated $5.8 million in medical supplies and medicine. As the first INGO to provide medical training in Ukraine, MedGlobal provides insight into how this training has saved lives in Ukraine.

Source: MedGlobal

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Enhancing medical services in Ukraine

In partnership with the government of Japan, UNOPS is working to boost medical services in facilities across Ukraine, improving patient treatment and supporting healthcare professionals.

UNOPS, in collaboration with the government of Japan, is implementing a project in Ukraine aimed at improving the quality of services at military medical clinical centres under the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. The project continues the assistance from Japan to Ukraine’s medical facilities, ensuring efficient treatment for patients and supporting a professional working environment for medical staff.

By procuring and delivering essential medical equipment, the project will enhance the effectiveness of medical services at a number of locations. The equipment includes a portable X-ray machine, a video endoscopic system, an operating neurosurgical microscope and ultrasound machines. These items will be used to examine patients and aid treatment.

The UNOPS Ukraine Country Director announced the project as a contribution of UNOPS and the Japanese government to enhance medical capacities of professionals and ensuring better healthcare of all Ukrainians, an essential component in the midst of war.

The Government of Ukraine, on its part, noted the values shared among Ukraine, Japan, and the UN, in particular the pursuit of peace and security.

Source: UNOPS

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IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has completed the planned transition of its reactor unit 5 to cold shutdown while moving reactor unit 4 to hot shutdown, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

The IAEA experts at the site have been encouraging the ZNPP to investigate all possible options to install an external boiler instead to generate the steam required, which would enable the site to bring all units into a cold shutdown state. As reported previously, the Ukraine national regulator – SNRIU – had issued regulatory orders to limit the operation of all six units to a cold shutdown state.

However, during a walkdown within the site’s perimeter on Thursday, the team confirmed that the mines that they observed on 23 July were still in place. The IAEA is also continuing to request access to the roofs of the ZNPP’s reactors and their turbine halls.

Over the last few days the IAEA team has heard occasional detonations; some at a distance away from the plant, and some apparently closer. Director General Grossi again stressed the paramount importance of adhering to the five basic principles for the protection of the ZNPP that he established on 30 May at the United Nations Security Council, stating that there should be no attack from or against the plant and that it should not be used as storage or a base for heavy weapons – multiple rocket launchers, artillery systems and munitions, and tanks.

The IAEA experts at the ZNPP are continuing to closely monitor the situation regarding the availability of water for cooling the ZNPP’s six reactors and other essential nuclear safety and security functions, following the destruction of the downstream Kakhovka dam in early June and the subsequent depletion of the huge reservoir near the plant.

The IAEA team reported that the available water supply remains relatively stable, with the water level in the site’s large cooling pond decreasing by around 1 centimetre per day due to usage and evaporation. Submersible pumps have been periodically used to pump water from the Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant (ZTPP) inlet channel to the ZTPP discharge channel. 

On 27 July, the IAEA team conducted a walkdown of the cooling pond area, visiting a pilot well that has been built near the port. Testing of the quality of the water and the flow rate which will determine if the location meets the site’s requirements for the well are ongoing, the team reported.

The IAEA experts also went to the cooling tower area, and the isolation gate of the discharge channel of the nearby ZTPP. During the walkdown, the team did not see any mines or explosives. However, the team could not go to the cooling pond retention gate to see progress of the construction of an additional barrier being put in place. The team was informed that the construction was completed but access was not authorised.

One of the off-site radiation monitoring stations, which had been damaged by military activity in the past, was restored earlier this week and put back into operation. 

The IAEA teams at the Chornobyl, Rivne, Khmelnitsky and South Ukraine NPPs did not report any issues related to nuclear safety or security over the past week and have observed nothing unusual at the sites. Rotations of IAEA teams were completed this week at the Rivne, Khmelnitsky and South Ukraine NPPs.

As previously reported, the IAEA conducted a Support and Assistance Mission on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources in Ukraine over the past week. The fact-finding mission collected information that will provide the basis for identifying future needs and priorities in this area. A strategy for technical support and assistance in the area of nuclear safety and security of radioactive sources will also be developed.

Source: IAEA

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Sumy Regional Authorities convene partners to drive recovery from invasion and occupation

The UN in Ukraine supported the Sumy Regional Administration to convene a forum of local authorities, civil society organizations, international development partners, academia and private sector actors, joined by representatives of the national government.

The discussions were aimed at establishing a regional recovery coordination mechanism to drive implementation of the Sumy Regional Economic Recovery and Development Strategy and strengthen the connections between the humanitarian response, recovery interventions, development planning, and private sector investments ongoing in the region.

As a result of the discussions, the Regional State Administration will establish an inclusive Regional Recovery Coordination Forum to implement Sumy’s strategy, with the support of the United Nations. All stakeholders agreed that the Forum's primary objectives should include promoting inclusive and sustainable development, local ownership and participation, and serving as a pilot for other regions. The Regional State Administration, the United Nations and all stakeholders made a commitment to support inclusive coordination and align longer-term support with initiatives at the national level, including development of the State Strategy for Regional Development and future EU integration planning.

Sumy has been severely affected by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In addition to the worst losses of human life and health, many people have lost their homes, jobs and livelihoods; critical infrastructure, education and healthcare facilities have been damaged. Despite the war, local communities have demonstrated remarkable resilience and, with the support of development partners, have developed and implemented recovery actions. 

The Sumy Region Economic Recovery and Development Strategy is an example of this effort. The UN in Ukraine has been supporting local authorities and communities in Sumy region in this process, by aligning its efforts with stakeholders to ensure the recovery interventions are tailored to community needs.

Source: United Nations

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IT Generation: Project training Ukrainians in wide range of IT specialties ends

The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine launched the IT Generation project in the summer of 2022 to give free training to Ukrainians in IT specialties at IT schools around the country. Now the project has come to an end, having helped 1,877 students successfully master new IT specialties and find employment.

IT Generation was a flagship project of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, as the development of IT education is very important for the future economic and technological growth of the country.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine, said his organization is committed to supporting livelihoods and employment of Ukrainians – all of which are priority issues for the Government.

Through strategic partnership with Sweden and the Digital Transformation Ministry, and through the IT Generation project, the project helped Ukrainians affected by the war to gain new knowledge and a competitive profession. This will help them get new sources of livelihood. Training under the project lasted from September 2022 to July 2023, the time of study depending on the school and the specific course.

Scholarships for 1,830 students were provided by project partner Binance Charity. Another 370 participants studied with the support of schools.

As of mid-July, 147 of the students had already found work in the IT field. Most often, project students found work in Project (Product) Management, HR, and JavaScript. Most of those who found jobs were graduates of the following schools that participated in the project

The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine launched the IT Generation project at the end of June 2022. It was carried out in partnership with the Binance Charity and the Lviv IT Cluster, and with support from the USAID Competitive Economy Programme and the “Digital, Inclusive, Accessible: Support to Digitalisation of Public Services in Ukraine” Project, which is being implemented by UNDP in Ukraine with financial support from Sweden.

Source: UNDP

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Downstream impact: Analysing the environmental consequences of the Kakhovka dam collapse

Following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) was asked by UNEP to provide an initial assessment of the potential risks to the environment. Their analysis focused on identifying industrial or infrastructural facilities with a high pollution risk, and an early assessment of the impact on ecologically important areas. 

The highlights of initial rapid analysis included the following:

• Approximately 620 km2 of land were flooded between the 6th and 9th June, affecting or in potential proximity to, a hundred thousand people. he flood affected agricultural, residential and industrial areas, as well as ecologically important habitats and military fortifications in front line areas. The flooding affected both the Russian-occupied left-bank, and the Ukrainian-held right bank of the Dnipro. In total 31 people were killed as a result of the flooding.

• 88 hazardous sites visibly impacted by floodwater.  The flooding of these industrial facilities likely caused the release of significant volumes of fuels and other pollutants, posing a threat to aquatic organisms. In addition to pollution from larger industrial facilities, floodwaters also affected sewage pits, agricultural facilities, petrol stations and landfills in settlements on both banks.

• Downstream flooding affected more than 86.54 km2 of urban areas, on both banks of the river. Topographic differences resulted in a larger flooded area on the Russian-occupied left bank. Households can be a significant source of pollution, releasing oils, household chemicals, and solid waste. There is also concern over the dispersal of asbestos fibres from damaged properties; asbestos is reported to be present in at least 60% of all roofing materials in Ukraine.

• Six areas of ecological importance that were impacted by floodwater. Four are adopted Emerald Network sites, and one a nominated site, which still has no name. Most heavily affected was the Lower Dnipro Delta, which is designated as a wetland of international importance under the RAMSAR Convention and is also an important part of Ukraine's Emerald Network.

• The flooding and deposition of contaminants has and will have a significant impact on the provision of ecosystem services. This includes drinking water, groundwater supply and quality, wastewater treatment, recreation, renewable energy provision and aquaculture.

• In particular, the agricultural sector will be affected. upstream there has been the loss or disruption of 31 irrigation systems in Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

• The scale and scope of the environmental impacts from the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam are enormous. The environmental consequences for areas upstream of the dam are perhaps more profound, and likely to play out over a longer time period. It is already clear that these impacts encompass water provision, pollution, loss of ecosystems and agriculture, but over time it is likely that other environmental dimensions will become apparent, for instance climate resilience.

It is likely that the Nova Kakhovka dam collapse will go down as one of the most significant events in the environmental dimensions of the war.

Details of the report are found in this link: https://ceobs.org/analysing-the-environmental-consequences-of-the-kakhovka-dam-collapse/ 

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“Keep in touch with the people.” Perceptions of aid in Ukraine’s changing context, July 2023

Ground Truth Solutions, an international NGO in the UK, released a report of people’s perspectives across Ukraine on how aid is provided, what barriers people face when accessing aid, and how they would like to communicate with humanitarian actors.  The study was supported by the Disasters Emergency Committee and was conducted in collaboration with two organizations.  

Through phone surveys covering 4,000 people and 30 qualitative interviews, the study explored how results measured up to their expectations.  

In Ukraine, people’s perceptions of aid across all six indicators barely changed from

September-October 2022 to February-March 2023. Aid recipients and people in need still think the aid they receive meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. Such a finding is rare:  perceptions are not higher than expectations in any other context.  However, for indicators related to communication, information on how funds were spent, and using more participatory approaches for soliciting needs, the respondents were largely neutral and at times negative.

Based on these interviews, eight areas for action were identified as most pressing, accompanied by proposed solutions from community members and humanitarian actors.

• Better adapt the response to needs.  Many people are not able to cover their most important needs with the assistance received. They ask for cash, or specific types of in-kind assistance, such as medication or supplies to repair their homes.

• Make aid more inclusive for vulnerable groups.  Despite efforts, the response is not inclusive enough. Vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, are still excluded from accessing information or assistance. Many people lack official documentation or bank accounts, which prevents them from registering for assistance.

• Ensure proactive information flow and diversify communication channels.  People still find it difficult to verify information about aid and navigate the overload of information available from different sources. They do not know which information applies to them. As a result, they might miss out on aid.

• Be transparent about decisions.  People feel in the dark about how decisions on spending humanitarian funding are made. They want to know which regions are targeted, which people are targeted, and for how long aid will be provided.

• Make sure feedback mechanisms work, but prioritise getting aid right the first time.  Aid recipients are not aware of their right to provide feedback, and they do not know how to provide it or to whom. Many people still feel it is inappropriate to give negative feedback.

• Localise coordination of aid.  Local organisations think aid provision would be more effective if coordination was localised and if they were more involved. Such reorganisation would enable better information-sharing, increased community access to aid, and improve community members’ participation in aid provision.

• Empower local organisations and volunteer groups by engaging them in decision-making.  Despite having plenty of hands-on experience, local organisations think international organisations do not recognise their expertise. They are also not meeting international organisations’ standards, making them ineligible for collaborations. Taken together, these circumstances exclude local organisations from decision-making.

The full report is in the link below.

"Keep in touch with the people." Perceptions of aid in Ukraine's changing context, July 2023