Winter in Ukraine has never been this harsh. Four years of war in Ukraine have left freezing homes, power cuts, and damaged infrastructure as part of everyday life for millions of children and families.
Schools remain closed, electricity is unreliable, and in some areas even water is scarce. Yet amid the cold and uncertainty, SOS Children’s Villages continues to show up, creating safe spaces, providing food and water, and caring for children caught in the conflict.
Every day, our teams work to ensure that children are safe to grow, to hope, and to thrive. To have a childhood even amid war.
The human cost: thousands of lives lost, millions disrupted
Four years of war in Ukraine have uprooted millions of lives:
- Over 14,000 civilians have died, including more than 700 children
- Almost 2million children are in urgent need of humanitarian aid
- 6.9million people have fled the country, leaving behind everything they know
- 3.7million people are displaced within Ukraine
Each number represents a childhood put on hold, a family torn apart, a home lost. SOS Children’s Villages remains on the ground, offering mental health support, safe shelter, warm meals, and spaces where children can still play and learn.
We continue to do so amid danger, disaster, and uncertainty. Because children’s safety and wellbeing cannot be compromised.
How SOS Children’s Villages is helping
Even in darkness, light persists. Over the past four years of war in Ukraine, SOS Children’s Villages has supported over 600,000 people across Ukraine and 9,000 refugees in Europe.
Our work includes:
- Safe spaces where children can play and learn
- Mobile teams providing mental health support in remote regions
- Financial assistance for daily necessities
- Support to retrain or develop new professional skills
Every child reached, every family supported, is a vital step against the devastating effects of war. From bringing calm where there is chaos to restoring dignity where it can feel lost, our teams are committed to helping communities endure and rebuild.
Hope and resilience amid conflict
Four years of war in Ukraine have tested communities in unimaginable ways. Yet hope endures. Children who have faced the unimaginable are now learning, laughing, and imagining a future beyond conflict. Families supported by SOS Children’s Villages are rebuilding lives, and communities are finding strength together.
In every safe space, in every act of care, we see that even in the darkest winters, resilience and hope can still be found.
The war may continue, but SOS Children’s Villages remains committed to supporting children and families in Ukraine and across the world.
Thank you to our dedicated teams on the ground and the supporters who make this work possible.
Four years of war in Ukraine: the impact on children and families
Read more