Russian ground and air attacks have left a trail of destruction across Ukraine, damaging, or destroying hundreds of thousands of homes. The sight of people sifting through rubble, once heart-wrenching, has tragically become part of daily life here. Many now go to bed, uncertain if their walls will still stand by morning.
In this grim reality, some are luckier than others. Though their homes have miraculously survived the war, they bear visible scars - roofs pierced by shrapnel, walls marked with holes and cracks, and windows and doors reduced to mere outlines in the rubble. As the harsh Ukrainian winter approaches, their owners face a stark challenge: how to protect themselves and their damaged homes from the bitter cold and the dangers it brings.
In this daunting race against the cold, the European Union is on the ground in Ukraine, providing crucial aid to repair war-damaged homes. Over the past 2,5 years, the EU and its humanitarian partners, including international NGOs Acted, Danish Refugee Council, and People in Need, have helped rebuild more than 80,000 homes in Ukraine.
Behind the statistics of replaced windows, repaired roofs or mended walls lies a world of difference: families are able to stay and don’t have to seek for shelter, older people can spend the coming winter in warmth and comfort, entire streets still filled with children’s laughter and the neighbourly chatter on Sunday mornings.
"A bomb fell at the edge of the village and the second landed right here," says Paraskoviia. At the start of the full-scale war, her village in the Sumy region was at the epicentre of the fighting. The consequences were tragic.
"The house was badly damaged. Windows, doors, and roof were damaged. It was all broken, completely knocked out," recalls Paraskoviia. The old front door, torn out by the blast, still sits beside her house.
Last winter, Paraskoviia endured patched windows and a leaking roof. This year, thanks to the EU Humanitarian Aid and People in Need, her roof is repaired, and she has a new front door, promising a warmer season ahead.
"Honestly, I was not expecting this help. I am very grateful, very happy that they have helped. It is very important for me and a great help for the people of Ukraine. Thank you, Europeans, we all thank you," says Paraskoviia with tears in her eyes.
Svitlana's home in the Chernihiv region, where she was born and raised, miraculously survived a month of active fighting in March 2022, when the Russian army tried to take control of the region.
At that time, the village had become a battlefield, with trenches running dangerously close to Svitlana’s house. She and her husband keep photos in the family archive, capturing the state of their home after a month of fierce fighting nearby.
Today, shrapnel marks on the walls and the remains of a destroyed barn are reminders of the war. The house itself has a new roof and windows, thanks to the joint efforts of the EU Humanitarian Aid and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
In the early weeks of the war, this cellar became a refuge for Kateryna and her family. One night, as they sheltered from relentless shelling in the frigid basement, their home was struck by a blast wave from a nearby bomb.
The house withstood the shelling but was badly damaged. One of the projectiles landed a few metres away and miraculously did not explode. Today it is covered in raspberry bushes and serves as a daily reminder of what this family went through.
With a new roof, windows, and doors installed by the EU Humanitarian Aid and Acted, Kateryna is ready for the winter. “The roof no longer leaks, and the new doors and windows are much better. We expect this winter to be easier,” she says.
In response to Russia's full-scale invasion, the European Union continues comprehensive humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, including repairs to homes damaged by the war. With the European Union's financial support, over 80,000 homes have been repaired, restoring dignified living conditions for more than 200,000 people. As winter approaches, these efforts become even more critical.
