Support for Ukrainians forced to leave their homes and winter preparations: Denys Uliutin meets with UNHCR leadership

Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin met with UN High Commissioner on Refugees Barham Salih and Director of the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Europe Philippe Leclerc. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 77th session of the Executive Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva. The discussion focused on winter preparations and support for Ukrainians who had been forced to leave their homes because of the war.

Denys Uliutin thanked UNHCR for joining the coordination of winter programmes and for providing one-time cash assistance to vulnerable groups living in frontline areas.

"It is important that this year the state and humanitarian organizations are preparing for winter not in parallel, but together. We sit down at one table, compare data, look for the best solutions, and find them. Not each on our own, but together. Our shared task now is to ensure that support reaches people before the cold sets in, without duplication and relying on state registers," Denys Uliutin stressed.

The Minister also informed partners about Ukraine's transition from separate, crisis-response decisions on internal displacement to a systemic state policy that covers a person's path from evacuation to integration into a new community or voluntary return home. Particular emphasis is placed on creating conditions for people's self-reliance through access to employment, housing, and necessary support.

In particular, Denys Uliutin spoke about work on a pilot social rental model designed to expand access to housing for those who need it. The Minister stressed the importance of international financial support for implementing such a project.

The Minister also reported on the first results of the updated Humanitarian Response and Resilience Account mechanism: with UNICEF's support, 7,845 children with the most severe forms of disability in nine frontline regions have already received assistance.

In addition, the meeting addressed support for Ukrainians abroad. Denys Uliutin outlined the key tools that the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity is developing together with partners: Unity Hubs, the digital platform "Dodomu," and the return ambassadors model. The Minister also stressed the need for timely coordination of Ukrainians' transition from temporary protection to other residence statuses, especially for vulnerable categories.

For his part, UN High Commissioner on Refugees Barham Salih emphasized that Ukraine remains one of UNHCR's key priorities.

Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation.