Four winters. Thousands of families displaced. And yet, remarkable resilience continues to define Ukraine as the nation marks four years since the full-scale invasion.
Ukrainians are tired. They are depleted and strained. Many have lost children or partners, many have lost limbs, and some have lost their homes. Still, they refuse to give up. Even amid ongoing uncertainty, isolation, and the psychosocial consequences of war, they continue to endure.
What is happening today in Ukraine?
The longer the war continues, the deadlier it becomes. "The war is not decreasing," Tetiana Stawnychy, President at Caritas Ukraine shared in a recent update on this sombre anniversary.
In the first 23 days of January alone, there were already more than 3000 air drone strikes, equal to the entire number of drone strikes recorded throughout 2023. This gives a chilling perspective on the escalating devastation.
Recently, attacks have increasingly targeted energy infrastructure. No region is spared, although major cities sit at the epicentre.
What are the needs and how is Caritas Australia and our partners on the ground supporting Ukraine?
These strikes leave families without electricity, water, or heating, as temperatures plunge to minus 20 degrees, crippling daily life. Heating tents are being set up so people can warm themselves, recharge phones and power banks, receive warm food and drinks, and simply be together.
Tetiana described the situation as being "on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe" in a way they have not experienced in the previous years of the war.
What are the needs, and how is Caritas Australia and our partners on the ground supporting Ukraine?
There remains a critical need for basic humanitarian assistance, including emergency food and water, essential medicines, hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and safe housing.
Our partners on the ground in Ukraine also support children who are traumatised. Many go long periods without being around other children and are too young to comprehend the destruction they are witnessing.
What are child-friendly spaces?
This is why child-friendly spaces are essential. These environments allow children to socialise, learn, and simply be children again with the support of mental health specialists.
A conversation with Daria, a project manager working in child-friendly spaces
Daria is a dedicated project manager at Caritas Ukraine working on the frontlines. Every day, she witnesses the harsh realities faced by women and children living under the shadow of war.
We spoke with Daria about her day-to-day experiences and how the Child Safe Spaces she manages have become havens of protection amid ongoing violence.
Daria is a dedicated project manager at Caritas Ukraine working on the frontlines.
Q: Daria, what do you see when you meet women and children living through this war?
Daria: Women arrive carrying overwhelming fear, grief, and exhaustion. They have often fled in terror, leaving behind everything familiar. Children show signs of trauma: nightmares, silence, sometimes aggression. Their innocence is stolen by the horrors they have witnessed.
Q: What role do the child safe spaces play in the lives of these children?
Daria: For children living with constant fear, the child safe spaces offer room for play. It is a place where they can be children again, to laugh, play, learn, and simply exist without fear of conflict. These spaces help soothe some of their trauma by providing consistency, care, and a shield from the outside world. We try to give them back some of their childhood.
Q: How do these spaces support families as a whole?
Daria: When mothers find understanding and strength in our care, they carry less of the burden alone. This makes them stronger pillars for their children. And when children have a protected space to heal in small ways, it lightens the load for their mothers. Together, these programs form a fragile circle of care and hope, a crucial lifeline for families battered by war.
Q: How will giving a gift to support this work help?
Daria: With the help of wonderfully compassionate people who support Caritas, we can open these safe spaces every day so that women and children have a place to feel protected and cared for. Your support gives them hope and strength to carry on through these dark times.
Hope for peace
As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, with the last year the deadliest to date for civilians, we echo the urgent and heartfelt plea of Pope Leo XIV for peace in Ukraine.
“Let the weapons fall silent, let the bombings cease”, while reminding us that “every war is truly a wound inflicted upon the entire human family.”
Your support reminds people in Ukraine that they are not facing this crisis alone. Every donation helps deliver life-saving assistance where it is needed most. Please, stand with Ukraine today.
