Winter Resilience 2025–2026

Support for the most vulnerable people in frontline areas of Donetsk and Kharkiv regions during winter: solid fuel, heating utility payment support, winter non-food items and clothing. Implemented with NGO Enlightening Initiative with support from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF/OCHA).

Delivery and unloading of solid fuel (firewood) for families in frontline communities — Published by Hands of Friends

Roles in the project

Donor

Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF)

A pooled fund managed by OCHA. The grant is funded directly by the UHF. In the record: funding (role 1).

Source

Lead · accountable

ICF "Friends' Hands"

Direct grant recipient; accountable for project oversight and directly implements the Donetsk component. In the record: accountable (role 2) + implementing (role 4).

Source

Local sub-partner

NGO "Enlightening Initiative"

A Kharkiv regional youth NGO. Implements the project component in Kharkiv region. In the record: implementing (role 4).

Source

Winter in frontline communities is a matter of survival. Shelling damages homes and heating systems, and the most vulnerable families often lack the resources to prepare for the cold.

The “Winter Resilience 2025–2026” project delivers targeted assistance to war-affected people and internally displaced persons in frontline areas of Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. Implementation period: 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026.

The foundation works directly in Donetsk region, Kramatorsk district (the Kramatorsk, Oleksandrivka, Svyatohirsk and Sloviansk communities). In Kharkiv region the project covers Bohodukhiv district (Kolomak community) and a transit centre in Kharkiv district - this component is delivered by the sub-partner NGO “Enlightening Initiative”.

What the project involves

Vouchers to pay heating-related utilities.
Vouchers to purchase solid fuel.
Winter non-food items (NFI) for destroyed or damaged homes, and winter clothing for newly arrived IDPs in the transit centre.

Priority goes to IDPs and local residents near the line of contact: the elderly, people with disabilities, families with children under 3, large families, households with utility debts or no subsidy despite low income, and residents of destroyed or uninhabitable housing.

Protection and accountability

Assistance follows protection principles: safe access to distribution points, physical accessibility for people with reduced mobility, transparent and non-discriminatory selection, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and complaint and appeal channels. Coordination with local authorities and clusters and registration in RAIS+ prevent duplication of aid.

Plans to continue in 2026

According to the 2025 Annual Report of ICF Friends’ Hands, the 2026 plans include heating utility payment support for 1,072 families, winter non-food items for 200 people, and winter clothing for 300 people. These are continuation plans, not achieved results.

Results for the period

The figures below distinguish interim results reported by the foundation from planned targets in the original UHF/OCHA record. The interim results are not final or independently audited; planned targets must not be read as achievements.

308

achieved result

people from the most vulnerable categories received assistance

interim result for 2025

Sourceaccording to the 2025 Annual Report of ICF Friends' Hands, pp. 24–25