Numerous civilian casualties were reported over the weekend and into Monday, with children among the wounded, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
The most affected areas are Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.
“Our humanitarian colleagues inform us that civilian evacuations continue from frontline communities in the Donetsk region,” Mr. Dujarric told journalists in New York on Monday.
Between 24 and 26 October, over 900 people were evacuated, he added, also noting that the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund has released $13 million since May to aid local and national NGOs in the Kharkiv region, assisting nearly 76,000 residents.
About half of those reached are women and girls. Assistance included cash transfers, shelter, health services, water, sanitation, hygiene support, and measures to prevent gender-based violence.
‘You can’t see anything’
Winterisation – providing lifesaving aid to vulnerable populations to protect them from cold weather and harsh conditions – is a major concern, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns.
Kenan Madi, Chief of Field Operations UNICEF Ukraine, told UN News that families along the frontlines urgently need heating, warm clothing, and other essential supplies.
“Attacks on infrastructure are affecting basic services – from hospitals to water utilities to district heating – making daily life extremely difficult for children,” he said.
“A colleague recently returned from Chernihiv,” he continued, adding: “His only remark was, ‘It’s really dark — you can’t see anything.’ Some rural areas are in complete blackout. This is what children in Ukraine are experiencing right now.”
UN response
In these conditions, UN agencies continue efforts to deliver aid to communities. UNICEF provided access to safe drinking water for 300,000 people in September alone and over three million nationwide so far this year.
Education is still disrupted: around 350,000 children in frontline regions attend school in person, over 400,000 follow a mixed schedule, and approximately 280,000 remain fully online.
To alleviate these disruptions, the agency supports over 150 learning centers offering catch-up classes, social-emotional support, and safe learning spaces. It has also rehabilitated more than 100 schools and kindergartens since 2022, with 42 additional facilities under repair this year.
Mental health a priority
Mental health services are also a priority. Last month, UNICEF reached 16,000 children and 25,000 caregivers in frontline areas with psychosocial support, and over 300,000 people have received mental health assistance throughout 2025.
Mr. Madi emphasized the human toll, mentioning the challenges faced by a mother of twins with autism.
“She deserves the help she needs, but this is not just one person’s story. Many households struggle with their daily lives. There are numerous stories on the front lines, and unfortunately, year after year, it is becoming harder for people, especially children, and this is very concerning for us.”
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