In the four years since Russia invaded Ukraine, the attacks on infrastructure have left millions of Ukrainians without power and heat, which has had a disproportionate impact on women. Electricity blackouts "directly undermine women's safety, protection, and economic security," reports United Nations (UN) Women's Chief of Humanitarian Action Sofia Calltorp. The greater risks women face can be attributed to factors such as prolonged periods of darkness and transportation disruptions, which increase the likelihood of harassment and accidents, as well as blackouts that significantly impact sectors where women are predominantly employed, resulting in job loss.
UN Women reports that 2025 has been the deadliest year of the conflict for women and although many women-led organizations leading the humanitarian response by providing crucial resources and services, around one in three of the organizations may not survive beyond six months due to foreign funding cuts.
Compiled from: Dominika Tomaszewska-Mortimer, "Ukraine's women at breaking point after four years of war as attacks on energy, healthcare continue – UN humanitarians," UN News, Feb. 20, 2026.