UK provides vital humanitarian support as Ukraine suffers through brutal winter

6th February 2026

The UK government has been supporting more than 1 million Ukrainians affected by the energy crisis this winter.

As Ukraine suffers its worst winter in a decade, UK-funded deliveries of generators, hygiene kits and other vital components are providing urgently-needed assistance in response to the dire humanitarian situation.

With the latest trilateral peace talks set to begin in the UAE, the UK has partnered with UNICEF and Ukrainian energy and water suppliers to restore the supply of water and heating to those that need it most in display of our unwavering support for Ukraine.

As temperatures drop below -20C across Ukraine, the UK government has been supporting more than 1 million vulnerable civilians affected by the energy crisis this winter.

The UK's latest delivery of generators comes ahead of peace talks in the UAE as Russia continues to step up its barbaric attacks, brutally launching 70 missiles at vital Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Monday night - the largest missile attack in more than a year.

The UK Government is working closely with UNICEF and Ukrainian energy and water suppliers, to help provide generators, pipes, cables, and other items to restore the crucial supply of water and heating to Ukrainian homes, schools and villages affected by the Russian attacks.

Amid freezing temperatures with strikes hitting residential buildings, many people including the elderly population have been stuck in cold, dark homes without running water or the ability to cook a hot meal. Schools and hospitals have also been affected, with severe disruption to medical services and some schools unable to provide in-person learning for students, denying children the basic right to a safe, warm classroom and the opportunity to see teachers and friends.

This week, 28 UK-funded generators have been urgently dispatched to water and heating companies across Ukraine, where they will provide hundreds of thousands of residents with emergency utility supplies. This is in addition to the 21 generators that were dispatched from December 2025.

Last month, 730,000 Ukrainians in Zaporizhzhia City and Oblast plunged into darkness without water, electricity or heating also had their water supply restored within just 90 minutes by switching to reserve power, thanks to UK-funded high-capacity diesel generators.

A further 10 generators are expected to arrive over the next week to ensure the continuity of water supply and district heating in priority locations across Ukraine.

Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty said:

Russia's savage tactics will not work - their relentless efforts to deny innocent Ukrainians basic necessities like heating, electricity and water in the brutal cold of winter will not break their resolve.

Despite the efforts for peace by Ukraine - Putin is continuing to hit innocent women, men and children - even in the middle of a brutal winter.

The UK is proud to stand with Ukraine and continue this lifesaving work with UNICEF.

The UK has provided over £1 billion in humanitarian and energy support since the start of the full-scale invasion, which is helping to keep the lights on and Ukrainian homes warm when vulnerable civilians need it most.

Rapid on-the-ground assistance has been provided to hundreds of thousands of people across the country, including:

UK support to local authorities in Mykolaiv Oblast has funded the installation of independent heating systems for two schools, Mykolaiv Lyceum Vidrodzhennia and Oleksandrivskyi Lyceum. Solid fuel boilers now allow in-person education to continue for 780 students, meaning the schools can focus on providing vital learning and care for children.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, UK support is helping to install a new water unit to make heating services more resilient for around 42,000 residents, while elsewhere in Kherson City we have helped deliver valves and pipes to repair heating and power after a Russian attack in December left 40% of the city without heating. A nearby boiler house serving 8,000 people has been completely rehabilitated, with stabilised heating expected to be restored for a further 30,000 people this month.
Distribution of hygiene kits in Kharkiv City following Russian attacks in January alongside the delivery of pre-insulated pipes and cables to Kharkiv's municipal heating company to restore heating services for the population.
Thermal insulation materials for the district heating networks rehabilitation for 89,000 village residents in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, improving efficiency and lowering fuel costs.
UNICEF water trucks that have delivered 75m³ of water to several large reservoirs within Odesa city, 25m³ of water to Kherson.
In total, the UK is one of Ukraine's leading bilateral donors and has committed over £577 million in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine and the region since the start of the full-scale invasion.

This is alongside over £470 million of in-kind, grant and loan financing committed to the repair, protection and recovery of Ukraine's energy sector and its long-term reconstruction and clean transition. This includes £153 million in contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund for grid level repairs, protection and additional power generation.

In addition to the humanitarian response, the UK has committed to delivering £3 billion of military aid to Ukraine every year until the end of the decade, for as long as it takes. Together with our ERA loan, we will provide Ukraine with £4.5bn in military aid this year - more than ever before.

Despite the efforts of the UK and likeminded international partners in responding to Russia's callous attacks, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine remains dire. It is more important than ever than Putin ceases to stall and delay, and engages meaningfully in discussions in Abu Dhabi to bring about a just and lasting peace and end the relentless suffering for the people of Ukraine.

6 February 2026
Fact Sheet with Al the Aid for Ukraine from UK

12 September 2025

New funding for Ukraine as Foreign Secretary visits Kyiv making clear Ukraine's security is the UK’s security

UK aid funding boost to support Ukraine’s emergency energy needs and help vulnerable communities targeted by Putin’s aggression
Foreign Secretary to meet President Zelenskyy, Ukrainian Ministers to boost UK and Ukraine relationship, because Ukraine’s security is crucial to the UK’s security
She will show unwavering support and hear from the Ukrainian people living through Russia’s aggression
Energy infrastructure and targeted communities in Ukraine will get new support to build resilience and support thanks to vital UK aid, as Yvette Cooper visits Ukraine in her first trip as Foreign Secretary.

In a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people who are on the frontline in defending their country and standing up against Russian aggression in Europe, the Foreign Secretary is clear that Ukraine is a priority for the UK. After a summer of Russian delay tactics at peace talks, weeks of increased attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, and ahead of a difficult winter, her visit will reaffirm that this support is ironclad.

On Tuesday, Russia’s unprecedented violation of a NATO airspace in Poland showed a complete disregard for sovereignty and peace, following Russia’s delay tactics at peace talks throughout the summer. The Foreign Secretary will underscore the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine during her visit and make clear that the defence of Ukraine against Russian aggression is vital to the security of the UK and the whole of Europe.

The Foreign Secretary is due to visit the Cabinet of Ministers building in Kyiv, which was significantly damaged in recent Russia strikes. She will also visit one of the residential buildings destroyed by Russia’s brutal attacks on Ukraine, meeting families and children to hear first-hand their traumatising experiences of living through Putin’s illegal invasion.

The Foreign Secretary has also announced £142 million in UK aid, supporting Ukraine through winter and into next year.

£100 million will provide vital support for humanitarian assistance to help civilians in frontline communities, protect the most vulnerable and provide emergency support for those impacted by Russia’s continued attacks. This will include repairing critical water and heating systems, and helping to support livelihoods and jobs and strengthen Ukrainian resilience in the fourth winter of Russia’s illegal war.

£42 million will help carry out vital repairs to the electricity transmission network and put in place critical protection for gas and power infrastructure as winter starts to bite.

Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper said:

I have chosen to visit Ukraine in my first few days as Foreign Secretary because Ukraine’s security is crucial to the UK’s security. I am clear that the UK’s support is unwavering and stronger than ever as we know the long-term security and stability threat that Russian aggression poses not just to Ukraine, but to the whole of Europe and to all of us here in the UK.

Through our ongoing military support, lifesaving funding announced today, the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership and our ongoing leadership of the Coalition of the Willing, we will be by Ukraine’s side to achieve a just and lasting peace, and in friendship for years to come.

Putin’s bombardment of Ukrainian civilians, his stalling and delaying in internationally-backed peace talks, and his blatant disregard for human life must end.

Ukraine’s security is crucial to the UK’s national security, which is a central part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.

As part of her visit, she will also meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Sybiha and Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.

As part of her discussions with Foreign Minister Sybiha, she will also discuss shared priorities as part of the UK-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue, which will culminate in a meeting between the Prime Minister and the President.