Ukraine

Advocacy for Ukraine

What is Happening?

The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has reached a pivotal moment. As missile and drone strikes by Russia intensify against civilian infrastructure and frontline regions, millions of Ukrainians are entering the winter facing stark risk of losing heating, water or electricity. Meanwhile, humanitarian funding is diminishing just as needs mount.

Compounding the crisis, host countries such as Germany and Poland are now seeing a surge in young Ukrainian men (aged 18-22) leaving Ukraine after travel rules were relaxed this summer. In Germany, arrivals in that group climbed from under 20 per week in mid-August to between 1,400 and 1,800 per week by October, with some EU leaders warning that public support for hosting Ukrainians could erode if young men are seen to be leaving Ukraine rather than serving, and far-right parties in Poland demanding that welfare benefits be restricted.

At the same time, although Ukrainian humanitarian organisations have made notable progress in asserting their leadership, the bulk of resources and power still reside with external agencies rather than being handed over to local actors.

What Must Be Done? 

Refugees International is working directly with leading Ukrainian humanitarian actors to enable Ukrainian organizations to take the lead in strategy, programming, and resources. We see the Ukraine crisis as a global model for localisation: when political will, funding and structural reform align, local actors deliver aid that is more resilient, effective and dignified. Europe must urgently prioritise transferring decision-making, strengthening local capacity, closing the funding gap, and adapting to new protection dynamics—including the reality that many Ukrainians will seek refuge in Europe and require long-term, not just temporary, protection.