WFP Ukraine External Situation Report #69 (January 2026) [EN/UK]

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Government of Ukraine declares a State of Emergency in the energy sector.
• Security incidents have escalated to seven in January, compared to two during the same period last year — a more than 250 percent increase, with one of the incidents resulting in the death of a WFP beneficiary.
• According to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs Response Plan (HNRP), which was launched on 13 January, 10.8 million people will require humanitarian assistance this year, including 2 million people in need of food and livelihoods support.

SITUATION UPDATE

The security situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate amid intensified, high‑impact attacks.

• Multiple attacks directly affected humanitarian premises and assets. On 22 January, a light vehicle belonging to the local administration came under a first‑person‑view (FPV) drone attack while enroute to deliver WFP bread to frontline settlements of Kozacha Lopan and Nova Kozacha, located less than 5 km and 10 km from the Russian border. The strike completely destroyed the vehicle and killed two male representatives of the local authorities on board. Overall, security incidents have escalated to seven in January, compared to two during the same period last year — a more than 250 percent increase, with one of the incidents resulting in the death of a WFP beneficiary, demonstrating that the security environment shows no signs of easing. This accelerating pattern underscores the extreme and growing risks faced by humanitarian staff, partners, and affected communities operating close to frontline areas.
• January saw sustained large‑scale Russian missile and drone strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy grid during sub‑zero temperatures. Kyiv was repeatedly hit, leaving up to 1 million households without electricity and large portions of the city without heating or water. Attacks also damaged rail networks, water systems, and critical substations essential for nuclear safety, prompting the Government to declare a State of Emergency in the energy sector. These strikes extended across multiple oblasts, including Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, and Rivne.