Caritas Australia is urging the international community not to look away as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, with 2025 the deadliest year for civilians since the full‑scale invasion began on February 24, 2022.
More than 2500 civilians were killed and 12,000 injured in 2025, a 31 per cent increase on 2024.
Urban centres were increasingly struck by long‑range missiles and drones, while attacks on critical energy infrastructure left communities without electricity, heating and water for prolonged periods.
In 2026, 10.8 million people are expected to need assistance, but only 4.1 million will be covered due to a $US2 billion ($2.8bn) funding gap. Winter needs remain severe, with more than 353,000 people at risk of being left without adequate heating or basic supplies.
Unpredictable and repeated displacement continues, with families often forced to flee with no warning. Those most affected include people near the frontline, the elderly, people with disabilities, single‑parent households, and families without stable incomes.
One of these vulnerable people is an 85‑year‑old woman with a disability who fled a frontline village. She told Caritas, “I’m not afraid of death, but I really want to live. What scares me most is the thought that my house will be hit or I will be seriously injured, and there will be no one to save me.”
“Communities are exhausted. People flee repeatedly, sometimes five or six times,” Sally Thomas, humanitarian manager at Caritas Australia, said.
“Yet through our parish networks, local staff and volunteers, we continue to stand alongside families throughout Ukraine,” Ms Thomas said.
Caritas Australia supports partners such as Caritas Ukraine, a network of 51 local organisations with more than 2500 staff, 11,000 volunteers and 400 parish hubs, that has reached 3.8 million people since 2022.
Assistance includes emergency support in transit centres and longer-term recovery efforts. This takes the form of food, hygiene kits, health services, counselling, protection services, child-friendly spaces, housing and shelter, and multipurpose cash support.
Ahead of the anniversary, Caritas Ukraine president Tetiana Stawnychy said: “In Ukraine, more than four million people have lost their homes and need long-term housing solutions because of the war.
“Initially, we focused on emergency shelter for the displaced. Today we are working with the government to develop a social housing plan to help people rebuild their lives.”
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Caritas warns of escalating civilian deaths as Ukraine war enters fifth year (Caritas Australia)
