Crisis winter scenarios being prepared in Ukraine: cities with elevated risks named
Ukrainian authorities are developing special response plans for possible emergencies during the winter period of 2026–2027. Preparations cover the period from November to March, with special attention to large cities threatened by the consequences of Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.
This was announced on Tuesday, October 13, by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov and his deputy Iryna Vereshchuk following a meeting of the Coordination Platform for Humanitarian Response.
According to Budanov, the main task of the authorities is to develop clear crisis scenarios and coordinate operational response plans for the period from November 2026 to March 2027.
The government, together with the State Emergency Service (SES), is preparing a base scenario of possible threats. Its development will take into account the geography of potential crises and the scale of their consequences.
"The government, through the SES, is preparing a base scenario of possible threats considering their geography and scale, and the Defense Forces and intelligence will provide a relevant risk assessment," — said the Head of the Office of the President.
Based on these assessments, state institutions, local authorities, international partners and humanitarian organizations must coordinate actions in case of deterioration of the situation.
Budanov emphasized that available resources should be directed primarily to those regions and settlements where the consequences of a possible crisis will be most severe for the civilian population.
"Available resources must be concentrated where people will face the greatest difficulties. Authorities at all levels, relevant ministries and services, the military, international partners and humanitarian organizations must act coherently and in a coordinated manner," — he noted.
The meeting of the Coordination Platform was attended by Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Ihor Klymenko, representatives of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the SES, relevant ministries, foreign embassies and major humanitarian organizations.
Authorities named four cities with elevated risks
Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Vereshchuk warned that Russia is changing its attack tactics, trying to create additional humanitarian problems in the Ukrainian rear.
According to her, special attention in preparation for winter should be given to Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipro. She highlighted these cities as areas where the enemy is trying to intensify the consequences of strikes on infrastructure and civilian population.
"The enemy is changing tactics, trying to deepen the humanitarian crisis, especially in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipro," — stated Vereshchuk.
She emphasized that international humanitarian organizations need to adapt current work plans considering new threats. This primarily concerns ensuring protection and support for the civilian population in conditions of possible large-scale disruptions in infrastructure operation.
At the same time, specific emergency scenarios and predicted scale of consequences for each of the four cities have not yet been publicly presented.
Ukraine warns of the risk of a new-type humanitarian crisis
Vereshchuk also appealed to international donors with a request to envision the possibility of rapid additional funding in case the situation worsens in winter.
"This winter we may face a humanitarian crisis of a new type. Donors' readiness to promptly provide additional financing for crisis response is needed," — warned the Deputy Head of the Office of the President.
According to her, state bodies and humanitarian organizations must form a common understanding of the possible nature, scale and geography of the crisis. Based on this assessment, the expected needs of the population must be determined in advance.
In addition, participants in humanitarian response will have to agree on priorities, work plans and a mechanism for rapid coordination of actions in emergency conditions.
Vereshchuk noted that this coming winter, large Ukrainian cities may become the main test of national resilience.
Preparations are being conducted against the backdrop of already active international winter support programs. In July 2026, UN humanitarian organizations presented an aid plan for the 2026–2027 heating season, designed for 2.1 million people. For its implementation, a funding need of 358.4 million dollars was declared.
The plan includes assistance with heating, housing repairs, medical services, food and cash support. Priority categories named are residents of frontline areas, internally displaced persons and people affected by attacks on civilian infrastructure.
The current initiative of Ukrainian authorities is aimed at additional coordination of actions of the state, military, rescuers and humanitarian partners considering the possible change in the nature of Russian attacks.
At the same time, Budanov and Vereshchuk have not yet announced the final deadlines for approving new crisis scenarios, the amount of necessary additional funding and the list of specific measures for each region.
Based on materials from: Kyrylo Budanov, Iryna Vereshchuk, UN in Ukraine.