The Government of Russia commenced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after mobilizing hundreds of thousands of military forces near its border, marking a major escalation of conflict in the country, where fighting in eastern oblasts had caused large-scale population displacement and widespread damage to infrastructure since March 2014. Since the full-scale invasion began, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, disruption of livelihoods and social services, protracted displacement, and persistent aerial attacks resulting in civilian casualties have continued to drive widespread humanitarian needs. An estimated 14.6 million people required humanitarian assistance across Ukraine as of late 2023, while more than 3.5 million people remained displaced across the country as of mid-2024, according to the UN.
USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in Ukraine and the region leads the U.S. Government humanitarian response to the crisis, and USAID's Response Management Team supports the DART from Washington, D.C. With USAID support, humanitarian partners are providing food, health care, multipurpose cash, protection, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene support to populations in need across Ukraine. USAID also supports partners to provide assistance for people at risk during the country’s cold winter seasons, such as blankets, shelter repair materials, and warm clothing. The U.S. Government is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance for people in Ukraine and those fleeing to neighboring countries, providing more than $3.2 billion in humanitarian assistance—including more than $2.2 billion from USAID—since February 2022.
