Russian attacks put millions of Ukrainians at risk of displacement this winter, UN Migration says
Where heating is available, many cannot afford to adequately heat their homes. Only 32% of Ukrainians reported being able to do so during the last heating season, a figure that dropped to just 1% in frontline regions.
The United Nations Migration agency warns that millions of Ukrainians, who have returned home, are at risk of being displaced this winter due to Russia's ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure. As of June 2026, approximately 1.56 million Ukrainians who returned to their homes now reside in frontline districts where three-quarters of the population require materials to repair damaged walls, and nearly two-thirds need insulation and roofing materials to stay warm.
The total number of Ukrainians who have returned to their country exceeds 4.1 million, excluding Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Arthur Erken, the IOM Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, stated that the issue now extends beyond simply returning home; it is about remaining safe in their homes.
Many Ukrainians cannot afford to heat their homes adequately, with only 32% reporting the ability to do so during the last heating season, dropping to just 1% in frontline regions. Six out of ten households have reduced their heating consumption. Russia frequently targets energy infrastructure and residential buildings in lethal strikes, leaving numerous without power.
Recently, a large-scale ballistic missile attack on Kyiv on Oct. 13-14 destroyed a residential neighborhood and hit several energy facilities in the city. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi reported that all three of the city's combined heat and power stations were struck, along with crucial infrastructure in the Kyiv Oblast that supplies power to Kyiv and central regions, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuries to 25 individuals, including a seven-year-old girl who was killed in a strike on a residential building.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
