War in Ukraine – four years on
As Ukraine enters the fifth year of full-scale war, Russia continues to destroy lives, tear families apart and cause widespread destruction to homes and essential services. The humanitarian crisis deepens as Ukraine experiences the coldest winter of the war.
Since the start of the war on 24 February 2022, at least 12.7 million people have been displaced from their homes in Ukraine. Civilian casualties from Russian attacks increased by over 30% in 2025 compared with 2024 and 70% compared to 2023. This is due to widespread use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
The worst winter
Russian attacks have increased in frequency and scale, with heavy use of missiles and drones. During this harsh winter, Russia has sharply intensified its campaign of strikes against civilian populations and key infrastructures in Ukraine. They have deliberately targeting power plants, electrical grids, heating facilities, transport networks and residential areas with missiles and drones. The aim is to deprive civilians of heat, light, water and other essential services amid subzero temperatures, weaponising winter to deepen humanitarian suffering and pressure Ukraine.
How is the war in Ukraine affecting women and girls?
The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the existing structural inequalities and discrimination faced by women and girls. As a result, there is an increase in gender-based violence and women are at increased risk of exploitation – such as trafficking or being forced into transactional sex for food and survival.
Girls, as well as boys in Ukraine, have been forced to leave school especially in the frontline. The ongoing war has further worsened conditions for education at schools and universities, making stable offline learning impossible in many areas.
An increase in domestic and sexual violence in emergencies means there is more demand for services related to gender-based violence and mental health among women and girls, but in Ukraine and refugee recipient countries, there are gaps in services for those in need of protection. Existing services also often overlook the unique experiences of LGBTIQ+ people, creating additional barriers to accessing services.
The challenge for women’s rights organisations
A rapid assessment conducted shortly after the suspension of United States funding in early 2025, found that nearly three-quarters of surveyed organizations reported major operational disruptions, and more than 60% were forced to reduce or suspend gender based violence prevention programmes. However, women’s rights organisations continue to be frontline responders, offering vital services despite facing significant limitations in both human and financial resources.
ActionAid’s response
- ActionAid has ensured the protection of women and girls is at the heart of its programmes in Ukraine, including its humanitarian, development and social cohesion work. Â
- ActionAid partner organisations are helping women and girls and young people to restore their physical and mental well-being through psychosocial support. They are also providing legal counselling and safe and sustainable housing and educational opportunities and training necessary to obtain new skills that help them to lead a more dignified life amid crisis and mitigate the effects of the war. Â
Valentyna’s story
Valentyna (pictured above) is an 85-year-old internally displaced woman from Myrnohrad city, Donetsk region, now living in a collective shelter after fleeing the war.
For more than four decades, Valentyna Terlepnova worked at the “Central” mine, helping build it from the ground up before continuing there in operations and later construction. “I am proud of myself,” she says quietly. “I never skipped work, I worked conscientiously.”
Her life changed in 2022, when Russia’s full-scale invasion reached her town. Shelling shattered windows, destroyed balconies, and left buildings torn open. Glass covered the entrances and courtyards. One nearby building was struck directly, a grenade hit the second entrance and exploded inside. The newly built kindergarten completely destroyed. “It was scary to look at,” she recalls. “There was no water, no electricity. Broken glass everywhere.”
Eventually, volunteers responded to her calls for help, she was evacuated on 23 August 2024. Valentyna has now lived in the shelter for a year and a half.
Today, she still lives in the dormitory-style centre, where she says she feels safe and cared for. The staff provided clothes, shoes, blankets, and basic necessities. “Everything from head to toe,” she says. “They take care of us. You can’t even put it into words.”
Life in the shelter includes more than safety. Residents participate in painting sessions, physical exercises, creative workshops, and group discussions. Through humanitarian support, she also received essential medical devices, including a blood pressure monitor and a blood sugar monitor — items she says she would not have been able to afford on her own. When asked if she would consider moving elsewhere, perhaps abroad, she answers firmly: “I don’t want to go anywhere. I will stay here.”
