Published on: 2026-10-01
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 1, 2026 Healthcare
The upcoming winter may be especially harsh for the people of Ukraine – and not only because of the cold. Continued attacks on energy and other critical infrastructure increase the risk of long-term interruptions in electricity, heating, water, and medical assistance. The highest overall risk is forecasted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Donetsk regions.
This conclusion was reached by WHO in its risk assessment for the winter of 2026–2027. At the same time, experts emphasize that this is not just about weather conditions. They assessed how severe the winters usually are in different regions, how vulnerable the population is there, and – importantly – whether hospitals, energy sectors, and other vital services can withstand the additional strain.
Clocks without electricity
Last winter’s experience shows how quickly infrastructure failures can turn frost into a health hazard. Damage to power plants and power lines led to electricity shortages nationwide. In some localities, electricity was available only for a few hours a day. At the same time, centralized heating systems were increasingly hit, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without sufficient warmth and hot water.
And all this happened against the backdrop of severe frosts: last winter, temperatures in Kyiv dropped below minus 20 degrees, and in some parts of the country – to around minus 30. A repeat of these conditions this winter, especially if repairs are delayed and power outages are prolonged, could have serious consequences for people’s health.
Particularly vulnerable are the elderly, infants, pregnant women, people with disabilities and chronic heart and respiratory diseases, displaced persons, low-income individuals, and those who have to work outdoors.
The situation is complicated by a worsening security environment. In the first half of 2026, 1,396 civilians were killed in Ukraine, and another 7,978 were injured. The number of victims was 37 percent higher than in the same period in 2025, and 114 percent higher than in the first half of 2024. Since February 2022, WHO has confirmed 3,140 attacks on the healthcare system, 325 of which occurred in 2026. WHO also notes a new trend – strikes on logistics facilities and warehouses, including those used for food storage and distribution.
Danger is determined not only by frost
The harshest winter conditions are characteristic of the north and east of the country. In the Chernihiv, Donetsk, Poltava, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions, over the past 20 years, the temperature on average dropped below minus 10 degrees for more than 20 days during the cold season. The least cold regions were the southern ones – Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odessa, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
But one of the main features of the WHO assessment is that a mild winter by itself does not yet mean a lower risk. Kherson Oblast is among the least cold, yet it is precisely there that the healthcare system’s and infrastructure’s capacity to cope with winter stresses are assessed as the most limited. Next come Donetsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv Oblasts.
Therefore, the final risk map looks different from just a frost map. The highest WHO indicators were recorded in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Donetsk regions. Increased risk is also noted in the Kherson, Poltava, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. The lowest indicators are in the Lviv, Rivne, Zakarpattia, Volyn, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
An even more detailed analysis shows that the danger is especially concentrated in the northeast. All five examined districts of the Sumy region were among the top eight districts in the country with the highest risk indicators. High indicators were also recorded in districts of the Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions.
At the same time, WHO warns that data for the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea are significantly limited. In particular, the available information covers territories controlled by the Ukrainian government, while some indicators are missing for areas of active hostilities.
From hypothermia to carbon monoxide
The consequences of winter can extend far beyond just hypothermia and frostbite. During the cold months, there is usually an increase in cases of influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections. Low temperatures raise the risk of strokes and other acute cardiovascular complications, and interruptions in medication and routine care are especially dangerous for people with hypertension, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.
There is also a less obvious threat. During power and heating outages, people more frequently use generators, stoves, and other alternative heat sources. This increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, burns, fires, and indoor air pollution. Overcrowded shelters, prolonged displacement, and isolation, in turn, can exacerbate psychological problems and increase the risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
Prepare before the cold weather sets in
WHO calls for hospitals to be equipped in advance with backup sources of electricity, heat, and water, to create stocks of essential medicines, vaccines, and heating equipment, and to maintain the cold chain for temperature-sensitive drugs. The organization also recommends conducting vaccination against influenza and COVID-19 among high-risk groups and deploying mobile medical teams to shelters, informal settlements, and remote areas.
Equally important, according to experts, is the simple and timely information for the population—about how to safely heat their homes, avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, protect against frostbite, and where to seek medical assistance.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.