URGENT APPEAL: Freezing temperatures and attacks continue in Ukraine – vital help needed

21/01/2026
Darkness in Ukraine power outages
The darkened windows of a residential building in Kyiv. People often go for days without electricity or heating. Photo: Dana Selezen

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Russian forces are systematically targeting energy infrastructure across the country, president Zelensky has declared a state of emergency in the energy sector. Electricity supply is unreliable, with frequent power outages, leaving many homes barely warmer than the winter streets outside. Temperatures remain bitterly cold, dropping as low as -20°C in some areas.

In Kyiv, people are relying on large temporary tents set up on the streets, where they can stay warm, drink hot tea, use the internet, and charge their devices. These warming centres also provide emotional support to help people cope under extreme conditions.

Many people are forced to leave their homes due to ongoing attacks. The harsh cold only adds to an already dire situation.

Transit centres provide comprehensive support to those fleeing the war

Since 1 June last year, nearly 147,000 people have been evacuated from frontline areas to safer regions, including over 16,500 children and more than 5,000 people with limited mobility. The largest numbers of evacuees are hosted in centres in Pavlohrad and Voloske in Dnipropetrovsk region, and in the city of Lozova in Kharkiv region.

Forecasts suggest that the number of internally displaced persons in Ukraine could exceed half a million in 2026, all of whom will need support – in their new homes, transit centres, and temporary accommodation.

Currently, Ukraine has 21 operational transit centres. People there receive comprehensive assistance: essential supplies, medical and psychological support, as well as legal and social help. At the Dnipro evacuation center, Estonian Refugee Council is helping people who have fled the war by providing cash-based humanitarian aid to cover basic needs in crisis situations. 

Due to extreme sub-zero temperatures and intensified attacks, transit centres and temporary shelters for internally displaced persons are facing ongoing heating and energy shortages. 

The Estonian Refugee Council is collecting donations to purchase generators, fuel, and other essential supplies for transit centers in the Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions so that work can continue there and people fleeing the war can receive the support they need at this critical moment.  
Please help the people of Ukraine, who face air strikes and bitter cold every day.  

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By choosing a regular donation, you help ensure that no one is left alone in difficult times and that assistance reaches those who need it most.

Woman standing with logs

Countries

20/01/2026
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in December
With the support of donors in Estonia, we raised €30,000 to provide winter heating assistance to families living near the front lines in Ukraine. On 6 December, the Estonian Refugee Council celebrated 25 years of supporting people who have lost their homes and sense of security. Over this time, we have supported more than 470,000 people affected by crises.  In Estonia, more than 300 people participated in adaptation training, and over 330 people took part in community activities in December. In Ukraine, we supported more than 170 families in Dnipropetrovska and Zaporizhzhia oblasts with cash-based livestock livelihoods support.  Since October, nearly 4,290 families in frontline and hard-to-reach areas of Eastern and Southern Ukraine – including Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts – have received winter heating assistance. In Georgia, we provided winter livelihoods support to 515 people who fled Ukraine, helping them cover their basic needs during the colder months.  In Syria, we distributed cash-based humanitarian assistance to 65 people in the Latakia region to help alleviate the consequences of the summer wildfires. 
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Countries

22/12/2025
Supporting Environmental Education in Rural Armenia
Thanks to the environmental education programme by the Estonian Refugee Council, students at three schools in the Tavush region of Armenia can now learn sustainable agricultural methods and contribute to environmental protection through their daily practices. Hydroponic greenhouses and composting facilities have been established at the schools, and the environmental education of the students is actively supported.
refugee youth infront of a firetruck

Countries

19/12/2025
Invisible Language Learning Supports the Integration of Refugee Youth
Young Ukrainians who have fled the war to Estonia want to speak Estonian, but their language learning is often hindered by a lack of practice and fear of making mistakes. To support young people’s language learning, the Estonian Refugee Council has organised more than 60 meetings based on the invisible language learning methodology for young people with a refugee background over the course of the autumn.
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Countries

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Support and shared activities help people arriving from Ukraine adapt more easily
Starting life in a new country can be a major challenge, and adapting often takes longer than initially expected. In autumn, in cooperation with the Integration Foundation, we launched a series of events across Estonia to support people with refugee and migrant backgrounds in coping with everyday life and to encourage them to participate actively in society.
women in Jordan

Countries

11/12/2025
50 vulnerable women in Jordan supported towards self-reliance
Jordan is one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting nations and also one of the most water-scarce countries, and therefore needs support to cope. This November marked the completion of a programme in Jordan that helped Syrian refugee and local women-headed households in vulnerable situations to become more self-reliant by using smart and climate-friendly agricultural methods. In total, we trained 50 vulnerable women, and built hydroponic greenhouses for 12 of them to use.
People standing infront of a building

Countries

10/12/2025
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in November
In Estonia, Estonian language sessions for young people aged 13–18 continue, based on the immersive language-learning methodology developed by Tallinn University. In November, more than 320 people took part in adaptation trainings in Estonia. Trainings related to residence permits remain the most popular. In Ukraine, entrepreneurship training began for 105 entrepreneurs to help people affected by the war create or develop a sustainable source of income. In November, we provided winter heating assistance to a total of 2,260 families. In Armenia, three greenhouses were completed at schools in the Tavush region, and 400 students received environmental training. In Jordan, a project supporting vulnerable women-headed households in achieving independent livelihoods through smart and climate-friendly agricultural practices was completed. In Syria, we provided cash assistance to people in the city of Latakia to help them meet their basic needs following the wildfires.
Kaks inimest istumas

Countries

08/12/2025
Over its 25 years of activity, the Estonian Refugee Council has supported more than 470,000 people affected by crises
On 6 December this year, the Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) marked 25 years of working alongside people who have lost their homes and sense of security. Founded in 2000 and certified by the European Union, ERC has grown into the largest humanitarian organisation in the Baltic region, providing rapid emergency assistance and supporting people in rebuilding their lives in various crisis zones.
Happy people

Countries

21/11/2025
The second season of AI training programme full of energy and big ideas has concluded
The entrepreneurship training programme Start Smart, organised within the framework of the employment programme UPBEAT concluded earlier in November with 37 graduates. Designed for young people with refugee and migrant backgrounds, the programme helps them strengthen their competitiveness with AI in the business and labour market. 
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