At the end of January, the European Commission announced €153 million in emergency aid to Ukraine and refugee-hosting Moldova, as millions Ukrainians face freezing temperatures without power under sustained Russian bombardment of energy infrastructure.

Responding to the urgent needs, the EU has allocated an initial €145 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine to provide protection assistance, shelter, food, cash assistance, psychosocial support, and access to water and health services. Another €8 million in Moldova will support the hosting of Ukrainian refugees who have fled the war. 

“As Russia’s full-scale invasion enters its fifth year, millions of Ukrainians are facing temperatures below freezing without power, without heat, cut off from the basic means of survival,” said Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib. “With €153 million in new humanitarian aid and an additional 947 generators deployed this month, we want people to have shelter, warmth and hope when they need it most.”

Alongside this humanitarian aid allocation, the EU has reinforced emergency energy assistance. On 23 January, 447 power generators, worth €3.7 million, were delivered to restore electricity to hospitals, shelters and other critical services. A further 500 generators are now being deployed, all from rescEU strategic reserves, to help keep essential services running.