Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy and water systems, combined with damaged homes and rising living costs, could force more people to flee this winter, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned on Friday, as its response plan for the country remains less than 7 per cent funded.
“Winter is fast approaching in Ukraine, and for many Ukrainians, the months ahead could be the most difficult since the full-scale war began,” IOM Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Arthur Erken told reporters in Geneva via video link from Kyiv.
With temperatures set to fall in the coming months, many families are struggling to secure reliable heating, electricity and water after years of war, the UN migration agency said.
Nearly 3.6 million people remain internally displaced across Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, while an estimated 3.8 million have returned home, often to damaged or partially destroyed houses, according to the IOM.
Those who returned within the past three months are the most likely to say they intend to leave again, the agency said, pointing to growing concern over deteriorating living conditions.
European countries, including Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic, currently host around 6 million Ukrainian refugees. Erken said he expected host countries to prepare for more arrivals if conditions in Ukraine worsened.
Repeated Russian strikes on energy and other critical infrastructure have put mounting pressure on Ukraine’s electricity, heating and water systems, while missile and drone attacks continue to kill and injure civilians, the IOM said.
Access to water is a particular concern because supply systems rely heavily on electricity. The agency has installed 31 solar power stations to support water systems across the country but warned that humanitarian needs remain immense.
The IOM said funding shortages could undermine its response as more households face freezing conditions, and called for urgent resources to improve home insulation and help families prepare for winter.
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