Weekly Update #84
 October 9

REFUGEE SITUATION

(as of 3 October 2023)

General Figures


Refugees from Ukraine recorded across Europe 

5,835,400

Last updated October 3 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

369,200

Last updated August 19 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

6,204,600

Last updated October 3 2023

 

Source: UNHCR collation of statistics made available by the authorities


STATUS OF THE CONFLICT

Continuing conflict

Dozens of people were killed on Thursday when a rocket hit a village shop in Hroza in northeastern Ukraine where people had gathered for a memorial service, Ukrainian officials said, in what appeared to be one of the deadliest wartime attacks on civilians in months.


The cafe had been closed throughout the war but reopened especially for a dead soldier’s wake, and almost every household in the village sent someone to mourn the native son.

When the gathering to honor Andrii Kozyr was struck by a precision missile that Ukrainian officials said was fired by Russia, almost every household in Hroza in eastern Ukraine lost someone. The cafe was obliterated. Entire families perished in an instant. In all, 52 people died out of a population of 300. Many villagers now suspect that a local may have tipped off Russian forces.


Like much of the region east of the regional capital of Kharkiv, Hroza was under Russian occupation for six months, until September 2022, when Ukrainian troops liberated the area.


Locals say it is strictly a civilian area. There has never been any military base, whether Russian or Ukrainian. They said only civilians or family came to the funeral and wake, and residents were the only people who would have known where and when it was taking place.


On Friday, a day after the strike, an earth mover extended the graveyard to make room for them all. Among the dead were a couple who left behind four children, a community leader and three generations of the soldier’s family, including his wife, mother and son, who also fought for Ukraine and had requested leave to attend the funeral held shortly before wake.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine condemned the attack in the tiny village of Hroza, which is roughly 23 miles southwest of the front line in the Kharkiv region, as a deliberate act of terrorism and “a demonstrably brutal Russian crime.”

Russian forces launched an overnight missile strike on Ukraine’s southern Odesa oblast, damaging port infrastructure, the regional governor said early on Saturday.  Four people were wounded in the strike, which hit a boarding house and a portside grain facility, said Oleh Kiper. Debris from the rockets and the blast wave caused a fire in the garage cooperative and damaged several apartment buildings.


Two people were killed and 30 people injured in a Russian rocket strike on a central part of the city of Kharkiv, the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said in their morning briefing. The attack damaged 61 apartments, 17 private homes and 10 objects of social housing.


Beyond the Kharkiv attack, Russian forces launched three missiles and 67 air strikes, and fired 46 times from jet-fire systems yesterday, the general staff said. More than 120 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts came under artillery fire.  According to the general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces, Russian forces lost 610 personnel yesterday.


Some of the deadliest attacks  against civilians since war began


2022

Kharkiv: Few places in Ukraine were hit harder in the early weeks of Russia’s invasion than Kharkiv, the country’s second largest city after the capital, in a region of the same name. Local authorities said in mid-March of 2022 that at least 500 civilians had been killed in Russian rocket and missile attacks on apartment blocks and public buildings. That month was the deadliest of the war for civilians, according to United Nations data.


Mariupol: A Russian airstrike destroyed a theater in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol on March 16, 2022. The word “children” had been written in large white lettering outside to show that civilians were sheltering in the building. Amnesty International said in a report that at least a dozen people were killed “and likely many more.” Survivors told a reporter from The New York Times that between 60 and 200 people had been killed. The attack took place during a siege of the city, which fell to Russian forces in May. The U.N.’s top human rights official said that Mariupol was probably the “deadliest place in Ukraine” in the war’s first three months.


Kramatorsk: More than 50 civilians died when Russian forces shelled a train station in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, in Donetsk Province, on April 8. The civilians, including women and children, were fleeing fighting in the province. The attack heralded the start of Russia’s campaign to seize the whole of the Donbas region.


Kremenchuk: A Russian missile strike on June 27 on a shopping mall in the industrial city of Kremenchuk, located in Ukraine’s central Poltava region, killed 20 people and wounded 59 others, a senior government official said.


Chasiv Yar: A Russian strike on an apartment complex in Chasiv Yar, a small city in Donetsk Province, on July 9, killed at least 43 people, according to local emergency services. Ukrainian authorities said that Russian forces had used multiple rocket launchers in the attack.


Vinnytsia: Russian cruise missiles hit a shopping center, a dance studio and a wedding hall in Vinnytsia, a city in central Ukraine hundreds of miles from the front line, on July 14. At least 23 people were killed including a 4-year-old girl with Down syndrome.


Zaporizhzhia: Russian missiles struck a convoy of vehicles carrying people fleeing fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region, southern Ukraine, on Sept. 30, killing at least 30 people and wounding 88 others.


2023

Dnipro: A heavy-duty missile built to sink ships exploded in a dense Ukrainian cityscape of homes and shops on Jan. 15, devastating a nine-story residential building. The strike killed 46 people, including six children.


Uman: A Russian rocket attack on an apartment block in the central Ukrainian city of Uman in late April killed at least 25 people.


Kherson: In early May, at least 23 people were killed and dozens wounded in a barrage of shelling that hit a shopping center, a train station and other places in Ukraine southern Kherson region, according to Ukrainian officials.

 

Sources: The Guardian

The New York Times

AP News

THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE


IMF expects continuing US support for Ukraine despite Congress dropping aid


Officials from the International Monetary Fund say they expect the United States will continue playing its key role in amassing multinational support that has helped keep Ukraine’s economy afloat during Russia’s invasion.


That’s despite Congress recently passing a short-term funding package that averted a U.S. government shutdown but dropped $6 billion in aid to Ukraine. It’s not clear if, when or how that aid installment might be restored.


The U.S. has already sent or committed $69.5 billion in military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, according to the Institute for the World Economy in Kiel, Germany.


“ President Biden has made an announcement ... that he is fully committed to supporting Ukraine,” Uma Ramakrishnan, IMF European department deputy director, said at a news conference Wednesday in Kyiv. ”And so from our standpoint, the baseline assumption remains that the U.S. remains committed.”


She added that “it is premature for us to comment on what will materialize or not, because we have to wait for the process to play out.”


Officials from the Washington-based IMF also said Ukraine’s economy was showing surprising resilience despite widespread damage from Russia’s war.


The Ukrainian economy has shown improving growth and lower inflation this year after the disastrous loss in 2022 of around a third of its output, including from war destruction and Russian occupation of key industrial areas.


Key to that improvement has been foreign financial aid, which gets less attention than military supplies but helps Ukraine keep paying civil servants and pensioners. It also has helped keep people’s savings and salaries from vanishing due to price spikes.


The budget aid means Ukraine’s government can avoid using the central bank to print money to cover its bills — an emergency necessity it turned to in the first days of the invasion, but a practice that can lead to runaway inflation.


Annual inflation has fallen from 26% in January to 8.6% in August. The central bank on Monday was confident enough in the stability of Ukraine’s currency to drop a fixed exchange rate imposed at the start of the war.


The IMF is lending Ukraine $15.6 billion over four years. That should clear the way for a total of $115 billion from donor countries that is expected to cover the government’s financing needs. The IMF loan helps bring in funds from other donors who are reassured by the IMF’s review of Ukraine’s economic practices and requirements to improve governance and fight corruption.


Ukraine is “making good progress” on passing legislation on a specialized anti-corruption prosecutor, said IMF Ukraine mission chief Gavin Gray. Bills were introduced in September ahead of a December deadline under the loan agreement.


IMF loan agreements with Ukraine before the war had stalled due to lack of progress in curbing corruption and the influence of politically influential business moguls. These oligarchs have kept a low profile since the invasion, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired several top government officials suspected of misconduct to show he is serious in fighting corruption.


Ukraine’s economy “is certainly adapting to the war environment and showing remarkable resilience,” with increasing consumer demand boosting growth, deputy mission chief Nathan Epstein said.


He added that economic growth should be at the upper end of the IMF forecast of 1%-3% this year.



Source: AP News


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A deal to expedite grain exports has been reached between Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania

 

Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania have agreed on a plan they hope will help expedite Ukrainian grain exports, officials said Tuesday, with needy countries beyond Europe potentially benefitting from speedier procedures.


The deal means that grain inspections will shift from the Ukraine-Poland border to a Lithuanian port on the Baltic Sea, according to a statement from the Ukrainian farm ministry.


The move seeks to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian exports through Polish territory.  From the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, where the inspections for pests and plant diseases will take place from Wednesday, the grain can be exported by sea around the world.


While the stated goal is to hasten Ukrainian grain exports, the agreement may also help defuse tensions over grain prices between Ukraine and Poland a time when some international support for Kyiv’s efforts to throw back Russia’s invasion may be fraying.


Agricultural exports have brought one of the biggest threats to European unity for Ukraine since Russia invaded.

Russia dealt a huge blow by withdrawing in July from a wartime agreement that ensured safe passage for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. That has left more expensive overland routes through Europe as the main path for Ukraine’s exports.

Farmers in nearby countries have been upset that Ukraine’s food products have flooded their local markets, pushing prices down and hurting their livelihoods. Sealed freight has helped combat that problem, and sending Ukrainian grain straight to the Lithuanian port may also be an answer.


Poland, Hungary and Slovakia announced bans on local imports of Ukrainian food after a European Union embargo ended in mid-September. Ukraine filed a complaint soon afterward with the World Trade Organization as the spat worsened.

The EU countries said they would keep allowing those products to move through their borders to parts of the world where people are going hungry.


Source: AP News

 

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Smaller countries are committing a greater share of their GDP to support Ukraine compared to the US


Many of Ukraine's smaller European allies are dedicating a greater share of their economic power to support Ukraine than the US.


CNN analyzed how international assistance to Ukraine stacks up.


The US has committed the second-largest amount of money to help Ukraine overall – including military, financial and humanitarian assistance – after the European Union, which has sent a total of around $85.1 billion, according to Kiel Institute data. That figure does not include contributions from individual EU member states, which are counted separately.

But unlike some of Ukraine’s smaller allies, Washington’s contributions account for 0.3% of its GDP, data shows.

Norway and the Baltic states bordering Russia — Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia — are committing a greater proportion of their wealth to the war at more than 1% of their GDP.



Total bilateral aid to Ukraine, share of GDP

Data covers Jan. 24, 2022 to July 31, 2023


Note: Data includes direct military, financial and humanitarian commitments to Ukraine. Aid provided directly by the European Union or via EU institutions is not shown to keep the comparison between individual countries. The calculation uses 2021 GDP values.

Source: Kiel Institute for the World Economy

Graphic: Rachel Wilson, CN

Source: CNN

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Where the military aid for Ukraine's fight is coming from

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Kyiv has been able to keep the fight going in large part due to nearly $350 billion in aid that’s been committed by mostly Western nations since January of 2022.

CNN analyzed how international assistance to Ukraine stacks up. Individual countries around the world have committed nearly $100 billion in direct military assistance to Ukraine. Nearly half of that is from the United States, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy through July 2023.

But Washington’s contributions account for 0.3% of its GDP, data shows. In comparison, Norway and the Baltic states bordering Russia — Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia — are committing a greater proportion of their wealth to the war at more than 1% of their GDP.


Where military aid comes from

Data covers Jan. 24, 2022 to July 31, 2023


Note: Data covers direct military commitments by individual countries; aid provided through EU institutions is not shown to keep the comparison to bilateral commitments only. Svk. stands for Slovakia and Est. stands for Estonia.

Source: Kiel Institute for the World Economy

Graphic: Henrik Pettersson, CNN

Source: CNN


Source: BBC

Sweden announces more than $199 million in additional military aid to Ukraine


Sweden will send Ukraine an additional military support package, worth more than $199 million (2.2 billion Swedish crowns), consisting mainly of artillery ammunition, the Swedish Defense Ministry announced in a statement on Friday.


It marks the 14th military support package Sweden has given to Ukraine since Russia's invasion began, and it “includes artillery shells, spare parts, infantry equipment, communication equipment and Combat Vehicle 90 ammunition.”


The Swedish Defense Ministry said the government has also formally tasked the Swedish Armed Forces, supported by the Defense Materiel Administration, to analyze and report on the possibility of Sweden sending JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.


Source: CNN

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UNDP and Japan deliver high-power autotransformers to Ukraine, ensure unbroken energy supplies to over a half a million people


The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with generous funding from the Government of Japan and working closely with Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy of Ukraine and national power company Ukrenergo, has procured and delivered two new powerful autotransformers to Ukraine.


High-power transformers are essential components of power substations, which regulate electricity voltage in transmission lines. Electricity is transmitted at high voltages but needs to be converted to lower voltages for distribution to consumers. Autotransformers perform this task automatically. Without these transformers, the grid cannot operate efficiently and supply electricity to households and other end users.


UNDP’s Energy Damage Assessment of June 2023 found that attacks on civilian infrastructure had slashed Ukraine’s power generation capacity by around a half (51%) of transmission capacity by 45% (with 42 out of 94 high-voltage transformers damaged or destroyed), necessitating the prioritization of investments in energy.


Last winter, Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure damaged most of the country’s substations – some beyond repair. As a result, Ukraine was hit by widespread power outages, affecting approximately 12 million people.


The scale of the problem is colossal. Everyday activities, be it a child studying at home or a family cooking dinner, became daunting challenges. Meanwhile, for Ukrainian businesses, the outages result in significant income losses, inevitably affecting their employees and families.


High-power transformers, such as those UNDP is now delivering to Ukraine, are also critical for maintaining other essential utilities. Energy is needed to run the pumps, ensuring every household has access to clean water and effective sewage systems. Moreover, during Ukraine’s frigid winters, many Ukrainians need power to run electric heaters. By providing Ukraine with autotransformers, UNDP also aims to shield families from the risks of unsafe water sources, potential sewage backups, and the dangers of resorting to hazardous heating methods.


Source: UNDP

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OSCE helps to strengthen the ability of Ukraine’s Free Legal Aid system to provide assistance to survivors of gender-based violence in times of war


Ensuring gender-sensitive education of staff working in Ukraine’s system of free legal aid will enhance quality of assistance provided to survivors of gender-based violence, including related to the ongoing war. These are some of the recommendations, elaborated with the assistance of the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU), based on the assessment of documents, policies and practices used by members of the Free Legal Aid system.


The FLA system is a network of 107 centres providing legal assistance with funding from public and private sources.  It (FLA) ensures the provision of the mentioned services and helps to draft claims and other documents in criminal proceedings initiated due to the commission of such criminal offenses. Survivors of sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence are entitled to a number of legal services, including representation of interests in courts, other state bodies, local self-government bodies, and in relations with other persons.


To help the system improve its response to gender-based violence, the SPU conducted a gender analysis of the policies and procedures to assess their compliance with the principles of gender equality and gender policies, programmes, communication materials, acts, documentation, etc. In addition, data on training on gender issues for FLA staff was gathered.


The study, while recognizing overall compliance of the system with gender mainstreaming requirements, proposed special recommendations that will help the FLA system to improve its activities in this sphere. 


Specific recommendations, in addition to more training efforts for staff and employees, include providing the clients a possibility to select the gender of a representative they wish to interact with, as well as the need to change the terminology in documents and procedures, including replacement of the word “victim” with the term ”survivor” to avoid victimization of those who suffered from gender-based violence.


Source: OSCE

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Partnerships in First Line Responses (FLR)


The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) commissioned research to explore the relationships between international NGOs (INGOs) and local actors (LAs) who started or scaled up their operations in Central and Eastern Europe.

LAs played an essential role in the Ukraine response. Many formal and informal local organisations – already present in the area – stepped up to meet the needs of the displaced. Relationships between INGOs and LAs formed very quickly. However, for INGOs with limited or no existing presence, early phase strategic commitments to a partnership approach, adequate resourcing, and a willingness to adapt led to more successful partnerships.

Factors that played a role in the nature of the relationships between INGOs and LAs included the following:


Their key recommendations covered the following:


The human side of partnerships – interactions and relationships – have emerged as a key factor in partnership success. INGOs should be proactive and adapt their programmatic tools and approaches to the evolving dynamics of FLR, acknowledging the growing role of LAs as first-line responders. This will

enable them to scale up their operations more effectively and navigate changing contexts.


Some INGOs have an organisational 'preference' for direct programming, which is often by the perception that partnership comes with greater risks than direct programming. INGOs should be open to adapt and accommodate non-traditional partners to foster innovation. They should rethink their standard operating procedures, be prepared to work outside their usual paradigms, and consciously engage with entities that might not fit into their conventional partnership frameworks. This approach will likely require additional effort but

has the potential to yield fresh insights, strategies, and meaningful impact.

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

Angelus - October 8, 2023 (Sunday)

In this month of October dedicated, in addition to the missions, to praying the Rosary, let us not tire of asking through Mary’s intercession for the gift peace in the many countries throughout the world marked by war and conflicts. And let us continue to remember the dear Ukraine, which suffers so much every day, which is so battered.

In questo mese di ottobre, dedicato, oltre che alle missioni, alla preghiera del Rosario, non stanchiamoci di invocare, per l’intercessione di Maria, il dono della pace sui molti Paesi del mondo segnati da guerre e da conflitti; e continuiamo a ricordare la cara Ucraina, che ogni giorno soffre tanto, tanto martoriata.

Links to the full text in  ITALIAN and ENGLISH

MEMBER PHOTOS

All partners of the One Proposal project met in person for the first time in Bucharest for the Strategic Plan Meeting to learn from each other’s experiences, share good practices and evaluate the project so far. In doing so, representatives from JRS Europe, Xavier Network, JRS country offices from Europe and USA, Concordia Moldova, JRS International and the Society of Jesus discussed the challenges faced so far since the start of the Russian invasion, as well as the strategies that have allowed to best accompany, serve, and advocate for the people displaced by the conflict. (courtesy of JRS Europe)