Attachments
MAIN DEVELOPMENTS IN UKRAINE BETWEEN 1 APRIL AND 30 JUNE 2024
• In May–June 2024, intensified ground conflict and increased air attacks further constrained humanitarian access to frontline areas of Donetska and Kharkivska oblasts (OCHA 12/07/2024; KII 12/07/2024 a). In April, the Pokrovsk-Kostyantynivka section of T0504 Road in Donetska oblast became inaccessible to humanitarians because of its proximity to the front lines (KII 25/06/2024 b; KII 12/07/2024 b).
• In May, Russia launched a ground offensive taking over ten settlements in Kharkivska oblast, with heightened security risks limiting humanitarian operations, especially in the north and northeast of Kharkiv (Reuters 31/05/2024; KII 26/06/2024 a; KII 12/07/2024 a; KII 25/06/2024 b).
• In April–June, at least four first-person view (FPV) drone attacks against humanitarians injured volunteers and civilians and impeded humanitarian aid delivery and evacuation efforts in Donetska, Kharkivska, and Khersonska oblasts (KII 12/07/2024 a; KII 26/06/2024 a; KII 25/06/2024 b; KII 21/06/2024). Several humanitarian organisations had to suspend or terminate operations in the frontline areas in response to the targeting of humanitarian facilities (DRC 24/04/2024; Suspilne 05/04/2024).
• In April–June, Russia intensified its air, rocket, and shelling attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure, substantially damaging Ukrainian power generation capacities, and causing planned and emergency power outages throughout Ukraine (CEPA 11/06/2024; OSW 24/06/2024).
• In April–June, the escalating violence led Ukrainian authorities to introduce additional evacuations, including the mandatory evacuation of minors with at least one parent in several locations of Donetska, Kharkivska, and Sumska oblasts (Suspilne 06/06/2024; Radio Svoboda 28/06/2024 a; Espreso 26/06/2024). Evacuation in areas with active ground conflict, including Donetska, Kharkivska, and Zaporizka oblasts, faced some challenges, as some civilians hesitated to evacuate until the last possible moment. Electricity and internet outages limited access to evacuation information, worsening the situation (KII 26/06/2024 b).
• According to Ukrainian authorities, people without Russian passports have faced further restrictions in accessing medical care and medicine in the Russian-occupied territories of Zaporizka and Luhanska oblasts (Ukrinform 15/05/2024; Suspilne 02/05/2024 and 14/06/2024; National Resistance Center of Ukraine 29/05/2024). Access to cash and financial services also remains challenging in the Russian-occupied territories of Donetska oblast, with residents often paying extra commission payments and unregulated exchange rates (REACH 26/06/2024).
In April, Ukraine introduced a mobilisation law affecting Ukrainian men ages 18–60. The resulting fear of conscription among male staff members has limited movement for humanitarian organisations, which have to consider minimising their staff’s exposure to conscription risks while planning operations (KII 26/06/2024 a; KII 25/06/2024 a; KII 21/06/2024). This situation also affects the provision of critical services to civilians in the frontline areas (KII 12/07/2024 b; KII 12/07/2024 a; KII 26/06/2024 a).