Relentless attacks are destroying Kharkiv’s infrastructure and exhausting its population

Since the start of the war, Ukraine’s second largest city and its region have been the target of constant air strikes due to its proximity to the Russian Federation border.

Indiscriminate strikes against civilians and the infrastructure essential to their survival are intensifying day-by-day, threatening people’s safety and livelihoods. These blatant and repeated violations of the International Humanitarian Law and the drop in funding are compromising the response of humanitarian organisations on the ground.

In Kharkiv region, in North West Ukraine, hostilities are spreading devastation and terror among the civilian population. After several days of Russian attacks, including the dropping of a high altitude guided glide bomb and particularly lethal “double strikes” – which target first responders who have already reached the scene to attend to the casualties – dozens of people have been killed and wounded. At the same time, air strikes are depriving the population of power for several hours every day.

At national level, Russian strikes in recent weeks have targeted 80% of thermal power stations and half of hydroelectric power stations, according to the Ukrainian Energy Minister. On 7 April, more than 400,000 homes, mainly in the Kharkiv oblast, were left without electricity following a night-time attack by Russian drones, according to the Ukrainian Presidency. The scale of the attacks could jeopardise the smooth operation of infrastructures over the coming winter period.

Action Against Hunger (ACF) continues to work with displaced and conflict affected populations, in an increasingly volatile security context. “In eastern and southern Ukraine, the security situation is particularly difficult. As Kharkiv region is located 30 kilometres from the Russian border, an artillery strike can reach it in just a few seconds. The relentless attacks exhaust the population psychologically and they compromise economic recovery”, explains Eric Fort, Action Against Hunger’s Country Director in Ukraine.

As the international conflict enters its third year, the population has exhausted its coping strategies, whilst international funding is reducing radically. “The volume of funding continues to fall for our programmes in Ukraine despite the intensification of attacks against civilian infrastructures. In October 2024, we expect a reduction in our funding of around 90% compared with last year. The latest Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on Ukraine in Brussels did not commit further to humanitarian funding neither. This is a worrying decline, which could ultimately affect the operational response of humanitarian organisations on the ground” concludes Eric Fort.

The military conscription campaign launched by the Russian Federation, which would aim at recruiting 300,000 soldiers, raises fears on an intensification of hostilities over the summer period. In this region, which presents the largest number of internally displaced persons, needs could increase significantly.

About Action Against Hunger’s programmes in Kharkiv

In the Kharkiv oblast, ACF has implemented food security and livelihood activities with two main modalities: the distribution of hot meals and multi-purpose cash assistance. ACF is also active in the field of health, supporting primary healthcare centres and implementing psychological and psychosocial support programmes. The last sector of intervention in Kharkiv is water, hygiene and sanitation, through three main modalities: our support to Vodokanals, rehabilitation of collective centres and the distribution of hygiene kits. Since the start of the conflict, all our programmes have been based on increased cooperation and partnerships with Ukrainian organisations.