In a conflict-affected village located near the frontlines in Kharkiv, Ukraine, residents continue to face the daily consequences of the crisis. Once home to 1,400 people, only about 700 remain; including internally displaced families, elderly pensioners, and people living with disabilities. The harsh Ukrainian winter is unforgiving, especially for those with shattered windows, broken doors, and little income.

This is where Medair, with support from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF), has stepped in to provide lifesaving shelter repairs and winterisation support.

"The blast shattered every window facing the strike."

Olha*, a mother living with her husband and teenage son, remembers the day her house was damaged.

“The house next door was hit directly by a missile. The shockwave blew out all our windows and scattered shrapnel into the shutters. It was terrifying,” she recalled, pointing to where the explosion happened just 15 meters away.

Like many in the village, Olha’s* family could not afford even basic home repairs. Her husband’s income barely covered essentials. “Maybe one window would have been possible, but even that would be out of reach,” she said. “Because who would install it? There are no workers here.”

Through Medair’s UHF-funded winterisation project in Ukraine, Olha’s* home received professionally installed energy-efficient PVC windows in February. The change was immediate:

“Now it’s 100 times better. It’s warmer. Brighter. Receiving this support makes me feel wonderful, thanks. Without you no one would have replaced the broken windows. I even got to choose the design. The team listened and installed exactly what I asked for.”

"We stayed in the basement while missiles flew over us."

In the neighboring village, Varvara*, an elderly woman, shared a similar story. During the height of hostilities, she and her husband spent weeks hiding underground.

“The world had changed. There suddenly was shooting all the time. Our windows and front door were destroyed. But thanks to Medair, they were each replaced in just one day’s work.”

Living in a remote area with limited transport and only a small monthly pension, Varvara* depends on occasional visits from her daughter and grandson. With new windows and a solid front door installed, she can now face winter without fear.

“It’s much warmer now.”

Delivering Aid Where It Is Needed Most

This project is part of Medair’s comprehensive winterisation assistance in Ukraine, providing:

• Thermal insulation and energy-efficient windows and doors

• Solid fuel in the form of firewood for heating

• Power banks for support during power outages

• Winter non-food items such as blankets and thermal flasks

• Direct support to households in hard-to-reach frontline villages

The support is tailored to the most vulnerable—including displaced people, returnees, older persons, and people with disabilities—ensuring that they are not left behind.

A Message to the World

When asked what she would say to those who made this possible, Varvara* simply said:

“Thank you. And may you never experience what we have. May you live in peace.”

These Medair shelter repairs in Kharkiv were funded by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund managed
by UN OCHA.

*Names have been changed for security reasons

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.  

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