Winter Support for 18 million Ukrainians: key facts about the 2025 programme

A record 18 million Ukrainians have submitted applications under the Winter Support programme, which is being implemented by the Government on the initiative of the President of Ukraine. Last year, this figure was 14.4 million. The largest number of applications — 14.3 million — were submitted online through the Diia app, including 3.3 million applications for children, and all of them have already been approved.

Another 1.9 million applications were submitted at Ukrposhta branches, including 124,000 for children — payments for these applications are ongoing. Those who submitted their applications after 16 December will start receiving assistance in early January 2026. As soon as the funds are credited, participants will receive an SMS notification. Almost 2 million recipients of pensions and social benefits through Ukrposhta received the ‘winter thousand’ in a special account along with their regular payments.

How and where one can use the aid

In general, the ‘winter thousand’ can be spent on Ukrainian-made goods, including food (except for excise goods), medicines, and books. You can also pay for utilities and postal services or make charitable donations. Most often, Ukrainians use the aid to pay for utilities, purchase medicines, and buy food.

The retail chains where you can use the Winter Support are gradually expanding. Currently, you can pay for goods in stores belonging to the Blyzenko, Auchan, SPAR, VARUS, Torba, Sim23, Simi, NOVUS, LIGA PRIM and Fozzy Group chains — Silpo, Fora, THRASH!TRASH!, Fozzy. In addition, you can use the National Cashback card to pay online via MAUDAU and ROZETKA marketplaces.

Funds received on the National Cashback card through Diia must be used by 30 June 2026. As of today, Ukrainians have made payments totalling over UAH 8.5 billion using this card.

Recipients of assistance through Ukrposhta — both those who received payments automatically and those who submitted applications at post offices — will have an opportunity to spend the funds by the end of February 2026.

It should be noted that over 2,400 families received the Municipal Nanny service in 2025.