A thousand days of war in Ukraine has driven millions to the edge. As the third winter takes hold, civilian homes and infrastructure, aid workers and ambulances, are all being targeted. Fear, exhaustion, and indiscriminate violence are devastating lives in Ukraine, warns Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Secretary General Jan Egeland, on a visit to the country.
Ukraine: Massive surge of violence against civilians and humanitarians in third winter of war
“The civilian population is being terrorised by a relentless, daily volley of Russian drones and missiles. People I have met this week in Kherson and Odessa are under constant attack. They must increasingly flee into bomb shelters, sometimes multiple times per day. Many are cold this winter, and all speak of exhaustion and fear,” said Egeland.
Efforts to support the population with humanitarian aid are increasingly challenged by the level of insecurity and regular bombardments, meaning that many of the most vulnerable risk being cut off from a vital lifeline.
“I saw in Kherson drones flying over the city continuously, leaving both residents and humanitarian workers in a state of constant fear and tension. Since the start of the year, over 50 aid workers have been killed or injured in Ukraine, the majority in or around Kherson. It is utterly unacceptable that aid should be prevented from reaching those in need,” said Egeland.
Since mid-July, Kherson and neighbouring villages have been subjected to more than 9,500 attacks with small drones, killing at least 37 people and injuring hundreds more. The attacks have also often directly struck humanitarian activities and personnel. In recent weeks, a humanitarian distribution centre was hit, which resulted in casualties amongst the aid workers and civilians present there.
“Increasing attacks are creating terrible consequences for the communities I have met this week. In recent months, the number of civilian casualties has reached the highest level since October 2022. Millions of families have been driven from their homes, deprived of their livelihoods, as the struggle for daily life and safety has eclipsed everything else. Many have lost their supplies of water, food, and heating in the midst of this cold winter,” Egeland said.
Many families are increasingly unable to keep lights or heating on in their homes as a result of devastating airstrikes. Deliberate attacks on energy infrastructure, a crime under international law, are creating impossible conditions for the elderly, the disabled, and families with children. As a result of the targeted attacks, Ukraine has lost 60 per cent of its electricity-generating capacity. Recently, massive country-wide Russian strikes left over one million Ukrainians without electricity. The loss of energy has also cut off essential water supplies as well as access to heating, at a time when temperatures are below freezing.
As access to humanitarian aid continues to be restricted by the attacks, displaced people and local communities increasingly have nowhere left to turn. In Kherson, 70 per cent of the most vulnerable people have no savings left, raising difficult questions on how they can continue to survive.
“Right now, people in Kherson, as well as in other parts of Ukraine, are facing impossible choices. They can try their luck at aid distribution sites, which are being increasingly targeted by drone attacks, or cope as best they can on their own. Almost half the people we are supporting here have told us that in order to survive they are cutting down on healthcare and heating expenses, while increasingly accumulating debt with their families and their neighbours. We need to be able to provide them with the assistance that they need,” said Egeland.
“This week I have witnessed the effects of a modern military machine being directed at civilian areas and infrastructure. It is paramount that the population is protected, and that we are able to reach those in need. All parties to the conflict must urgently de-escalate the war and ensure that humanitarians can deliver assistance in a safe and secure environment.”
Notes to editors:
- Photos and videos of Jan Egeland’s trip to Ukraine and Moldova are available for use here.
- As of October 2024, an estimated 3.6 million people remain internally displaced in Ukraine (IOM).
- The United Nations estimates that Ukraine has lost 60% of its electricity-generating capacity (UN).
- OHCHR reported that 3,274 civilian casualties were recorded in Ukraine between June and August this year (June: 161 killed/717 injured, July: 244 killed/1,112 injured, August: 184 killed/856 injured). This marks the highest three-month casualty total since 2022 (OHCHR).
- According to the head of the Kherson military administration Oleksandr Prokudin 9,500 attacks with small drones have killed at least 37 people and injured hundreds more since mid-July (Financial Times).
- On November 28, Russian strikes on energy infrastructure were recorded, and over 1 million people lost electricity (Dixi Group).
- More than 50 aid workers have been killed or injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the year (OCHA).
- NRC research has found that around 70% of people receiving assistance in the Kherson region have exhausted all of their previous savings. The research collected data from 3,504 individuals in Kherson Oblast between August and September 2024.
- NRC research has found that 37% of people receiving assistance in Kherson region are reducing their health or heating expenditures, as well as acquiring more debt (14%) and spending from their savings (23%). The research collected data from 3,504 individuals in Kherson Oblast between August and September 2024.
- In Kherson Сity improvised short-range combat unmanned aerial vehicles (ICUAV) attacks increased from four strikes in May to 50 recorded in August (INSO).
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62329
- Ed Prior, Media Adviser to the Secretary General, currently in Ukraine with Jan Egeland: ed.prior@nrc.no, +47 902 94 379
“The civilian population is being terrorised by a relentless, daily volley of Russian drones and missiles. People I have met this week in Kherson and Odessa are under constant attack. They must increasingly flee into bomb shelters, sometimes multiple times per day. Many are cold this winter, and all speak of exhaustion and fear,” said Egeland.
Efforts to support the population with humanitarian aid are increasingly challenged by the level of insecurity and regular bombardments, meaning that many of the most vulnerable risk being cut off from a vital lifeline.
“I saw in Kherson drones flying over the city continuously, leaving both residents and humanitarian workers in a state of constant fear and tension. Since the start of the year, over 50 aid workers have been killed or injured in Ukraine, the majority in or around Kherson. It is utterly unacceptable that aid should be prevented from reaching those in need,” said Egeland.
Since mid-July, Kherson and neighbouring villages have been subjected to more than 9,500 attacks with small drones, killing at least 37 people and injuring hundreds more. The attacks have also often directly struck humanitarian activities and personnel. In recent weeks, a humanitarian distribution centre was hit, which resulted in casualties amongst the aid workers and civilians present there.
“Increasing attacks are creating terrible consequences for the communities I have met this week. In recent months, the number of civilian casualties has reached the highest level since October 2022. Millions of families have been driven from their homes, deprived of their livelihoods, as the struggle for daily life and safety has eclipsed everything else. Many have lost their supplies of water, food, and heating in the midst of this cold winter,” Egeland said.
Many families are increasingly unable to keep lights or heating on in their homes as a result of devastating airstrikes. Deliberate attacks on energy infrastructure, a crime under international law, are creating impossible conditions for the elderly, the disabled, and families with children. As a result of the targeted attacks, Ukraine has lost 60 per cent of its electricity-generating capacity. Recently, massive country-wide Russian strikes left over one million Ukrainians without electricity. The loss of energy has also cut off essential water supplies as well as access to heating, at a time when temperatures are below freezing.
As access to humanitarian aid continues to be restricted by the attacks, displaced people and local communities increasingly have nowhere left to turn. In Kherson, 70 per cent of the most vulnerable people have no savings left, raising difficult questions on how they can continue to survive.
“Right now, people in Kherson, as well as in other parts of Ukraine, are facing impossible choices. They can try their luck at aid distribution sites, which are being increasingly targeted by drone attacks, or cope as best they can on their own. Almost half the people we are supporting here have told us that in order to survive they are cutting down on healthcare and heating expenses, while increasingly accumulating debt with their families and their neighbours. We need to be able to provide them with the assistance that they need,” said Egeland.
“This week I have witnessed the effects of a modern military machine being directed at civilian areas and infrastructure. It is paramount that the population is protected, and that we are able to reach those in need. All parties to the conflict must urgently de-escalate the war and ensure that humanitarians can deliver assistance in a safe and secure environment.”
Notes to editors:
- Photos and videos of Jan Egeland’s trip to Ukraine and Moldova are available for use here.
- As of October 2024, an estimated 3.6 million people remain internally displaced in Ukraine (IOM).
- The United Nations estimates that Ukraine has lost 60% of its electricity-generating capacity (UN).
- OHCHR reported that 3,274 civilian casualties were recorded in Ukraine between June and August this year (June: 161 killed/717 injured, July: 244 killed/1,112 injured, August: 184 killed/856 injured). This marks the highest three-month casualty total since 2022 (OHCHR).
- According to the head of the Kherson military administration Oleksandr Prokudin 9,500 attacks with small drones have killed at least 37 people and injured hundreds more since mid-July (Financial Times).
- On November 28, Russian strikes on energy infrastructure were recorded, and over 1 million people lost electricity (Dixi Group).
- More than 50 aid workers have been killed or injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the year (OCHA).
- NRC research has found that around 70% of people receiving assistance in the Kherson region have exhausted all of their previous savings. The research collected data from 3,504 individuals in Kherson Oblast between August and September 2024.
- NRC research has found that 37% of people receiving assistance in Kherson region are reducing their health or heating expenditures, as well as acquiring more debt (14%) and spending from their savings (23%). The research collected data from 3,504 individuals in Kherson Oblast between August and September 2024.
- In Kherson Сity improvised short-range combat unmanned aerial vehicles (ICUAV) attacks increased from four strikes in May to 50 recorded in August (INSO).
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62329
- Ed Prior, Media Adviser to the Secretary General, currently in Ukraine with Jan Egeland: ed.prior@nrc.no, +47 902 94 379