This war is following children, as attacks on civilian areas continue across Ukraine four years into war

KHERSON/GENEVA, 17 February 2026 – “One freezing night in late January, Kateryna grabbed her two children and ran into the corridor. The explosions were louder than normal by Kherson standards and suddenly a blast ripped through their home. 

“Sixteen-year-old Daria and eight-year-old Artem were injured by shrapnel. Kateryna needed surgery but miraculously they all survived. 

“A local UNICEF-supported mobile child protection team immediately visited the family in hospital to provide psychosocial support, as well as access to cash assistance and essential supplies. Today, the family is recovering, but the house they rent outside the city offers little sanctuary from this brutal war.

“The tragedy is that four years since the start of the full-scale war - few places do. In Kherson city and region, where I am today, daily life is a matter of survival for children and families.

“This frontline area is covered in anti-drone nets, and childhood has literally moved underground.

“There are about 5,000 children left – out of 60,000 who once lived peacefully with their families and friends until their childhoods were upended forever on 24 February 2022.

“Today, children learn, play, and sleep in basements just to stay safe.

“In this UNICEF-supported child protection hub, I’ve been speaking to families and staff, including psychologists and case managers. They all speak about the levels of exhaustion that families are enduring from living 24 hours a day in a hyper alert state.

“Constant fear of attacks, endless sheltering in basements, and isolation at home with limited social connections have left children and adolescents struggling, with consequences for their mental and physical health.

“But at the same time, spaces like this here provide some respite from the horrors above, and there is an extraordinary determination to carry on with life. UNICEF is helping children and families do just that.

“Working with local authorities and partners we support seven child protection hubs across the Kherson region and enable lifesaving emergency protection assistance through outreach teams, while strengthening alternative care solutions for the most vulnerable children.

“We have set up spaces for early childhood education and digital learning, as well as youth centres to nurture skills development and social connections.  We also provide winter cash assistance and support local utilities with repairs and upgrades to keep the heating on and water running. This response is replicated across frontline areas and further afield.

“Finding safety shouldn’t have to be a distant hope for any family, but it’s one shared by so many. As we enter the fifth year of war, one third of Ukraine’s children remain displaced. That’s nearly 2.6 million children. Nearly 1.8 million of these children are living as refugees outside of the country. More than 791,000 children are displaced inside Ukraine.

“The war is acute across frontline areas but also follows children far from the frontlines of Kherson. Attacks impacting civilian areas continue across the country, destroying children’s lives, homes, schools, hospitals, and the infrastructure they rely on.

“The killing and maiming of children in Kyiv city and region, for example, increased nearly fourfold last year compared to 2024.

“A recent UNICEF survey found that 1 in 3 adolescents aged 15-19 years had been displaced at least twice, with the search for safety cited as the most common reason for fleeing. Seeking better access to education and skills development for young people’s development were also key factors in moving.

“Children and youth haven’t given up on their futures, and neither will we.

“UNICEF has been working across Ukraine and in neighboring host countries to support children affected by displacement and the ongoing violence.

“Together, with local partners on the ground, we will continue our large-scale lifesaving humanitarian response, while driving recovery and reforms that put children and young people at the centre. This work is urgent and non-negotiable to protect and improve children’s lives today, for their futures, and that of the country.

“What every child needs now is lasting peace, so they can grow up with safety and stability – that's their right and without exception that right must be respected.

“Children across Ukraine have suffered for far too long. They still aspire to realize their dreams and it’s on us all to make that a reality.”