Attachments
Context & rationale
➢ The full-scale war has resulted in a significant level of damage to housing infrastructure.
➢ The war has also damaged electricity, gas and heat supply facilities, with a large concentration of the damage on the front line and border areas.
➢ As of June 2024, Ukraine has lost 50% of its electricity generation capacity, compared to pre-war levels, and the situation is expected to worsen before winter (Ukrinform).
➢ Elevated humanitarian needs and socio-economic challenges, exacerbated by recent frontline developments and new waves of displacement (e.g. Sumska).
REACH aims to support winterisation response planning by identifying “cold spots”, areas where winter-related hazards intersect with socio-economic vulnerabilities and lack of coping capacities (LOCC), with a focus on damaged energy infrastructure
Key findings
➢ The 2024/25 Cold Spot Index (CSI) identified Kharkivskyi, Bohodukhivskyi and Chuhuivskyi (Kharkivska oblast) and Sumskyi (Sumska oblast) as the raions with the highest winter-related risks.
➢ These results are based on a combination of severe winter conditions, high levels of vulnerability (presence of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and elderly populations), and conflict-related damage.
➢ Conflict-related damage has impacted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, exacerbating the vulnerability of populations to winter conditions through frequent power outages disrupting essential services like heating and water supply.
➢ The winterisation response should remain adaptable to address potential deterioration of the energy infrastructure in response to emerging localized challenges.