More than three years into the full-scale war, the humanitarian needs in Ukraine remain staggering. Since February 24, 2022, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes, resulting in the largest displacement of people in Europe since World War II. As of 2025, an estimated 12.7 million people across the country require humanitarian assistance. Around 3.7 million people are still displaced within Ukraine, and a further 6.7 million have sought refuge abroad — including 6.2 million now living in countries across Europe.

Behind these figures are families separated, communities uprooted, and lives disrupted. Many people continue to live close to active hostilities, where safety is fragile and access to essentials like clean water, food, electricity, or medical care can be limited or unpredictable. Even in parts of the country further from the fighting, life is far from normal. Displaced people face the challenge of starting over in unfamiliar places, often with limited resources. 

We have supported the war-affected people in Ukraine since 2014. As the situation evolves, so does our response. We continue to adapt our programmes to meet people’s most urgent needs, helping people stay safe, regain stability, and rebuild their lives.

"I’m not going to leave all this behind.”

“It’s not easy to live here under these circumstances but I cannot imagine myself elsewhere. I love my cows and the fruit trees I’ve planted in my garden. I’m grateful for the timely and efficient support ERC provided to me. Every day I do my best to keep the household running. I’m not going to leave all this behind.”

- Olena, a farmer from Dnipropetrovsk region

Olena from Dnipropetrovsk region

Our response

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Discover the services we offer to support people affected by the war in Ukraine.

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Роздача дров

Together with local partner, ERC provides in-kind assistance for winter energy in Donetsk region

Valerii and his wife live in the village in Donetsk region. Their children are already grown up and live separately. Valerii is a pensioner now but before he…
Jõulupidu Võrus

Family Celebration in Võru Brought Together Ukrainians and Their Friends

On 7 December, a pre-Christmas Ukrainian-Estonian family celebration was held in Võru in cooperation with the local Red Cross office, bringing together around…
Вразливі родини на Черкащині отримали нові джерела доходу завдяки підтримці від Естонської ради у справах біженців в Україні

Vulnerable families in Cherkasy region gain new sources of income with ERC’s livelihood grants support

ERC team visited families in the town of Smila in Cherkasy region who received assistance from the Estonian Refugee Council in Ukraine through the Emergency…
fire wood

Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in November

The Estonian Refugee Council celebrated its 24th Anniversary. In our 24 years of operation our assistance has reached around half a million people. We have…
Empowering Women häkatoni finaal 2024

"Empowering Women" incubation programme selects 41 top business ideas

On 22–23 November, at Ilmaveere in Setomaa, the final of the "Empowering Women" entrepreneurship programme hackathon, organised in collaboration by the…
UPBEAT employability programme

AI-Inclusive Employability Programme Enhances Refugees' Competitiveness in Entrepreneurship

The UPBEAT employability programme, launched in the summer in collaboration with the Estonian Refugee Council, Startup Refugees, and Haaga-Helia University of…
Ukraina toetusüritus Vabaduse väljakul

ERC's event for 1000 days of full scale war brought together hundreds of people

Yesterday, 19 November, a support event for Ukraine was held at Freedom Square in Tallinn, where 1,000 candles were lit to mark 1,000 days since the start of…
Woman sitting behind a desk with other people in the background

Estonian Refugee Council Releases Brochure Marking 1,000 Days of War

Today, as 1,000 days have passed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Estonian Refugee Council’s Ukraine office has published a brochure…
Sõjakahjustused Ukrainas. Purustatud aknad on kinni löödud, et sooja toas hoida

Estonian Refugee Council to Light a Thousand Candles in Support of Ukraine

On 19 November, from 5 PM to 9 PM, the Estonian Refugee Council will host a solidarity event in Freedom Square, Tallinn, where a thousand candles will be lit…
Knowledge Exchange programm

Estonia, Latvia, and Finland Wrap Up Collaborative Project on Refugee Labour Market Integration

The project, which aimed to map out opportunities for people with a refugee background to enter the labour market, culminated in an Estonian visit at the…
"1000 päeva soda, 1000 sooja kodu" kampaania 2024

"1000 Days of War, 1000 Warm Homes": Estonian Refugee Council Calls for Donations to Support Families Near the Frontline

The Estonian Refugee Council launched a donation campaign on 13 November – “1000 Days of War, 1000 Warm Homes” – to collect donations during November and…
Наталія Качур

Art for healing and self-development: The story of “Kachur” online school

Ms. Nataliya Kachur comes from the city of Soledar in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. Due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nataliya and…