Humanitarian Hubs 2025/2026: How We Supported 19,214 People During Blackouts
- May 22
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 19
The winter of 2025/2026 was a serious challenge for thousands of Ukrainians. Prolonged power outages left people without heat, connectivity, and safe spaces for daily life. Ukrainian Humanitarian Initiatives (UHI), together with partners, deployed a network of autonomous humanitarian hubs - a practical, on-the-ground response to this crisis.
What Is a Humanitarian Hub
A Humanitarian Hub is not just a "warming point." It is an autonomous daily support space that operates independently of the power grid and provides a set of essential services:
Independent heating system
High-capacity autonomous generator
Wi-Fi and device charging stations
Free hot drinks
Children's zone with activities
Daily psychosocial support
Core principle: no registration, no queues, open every day, for everyone.
Season 2025/2026 - Results
The hub network operated across four locations in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast — in Brovary, Troyeshchyna, VDNG, and Obukhiv. Over 142 days of operation, the hubs were visited by 19,214 people, including 10,814 children.
These results confirmed strong demand for this model and proved that autonomous humanitarian hubs are an effective tool for emergency response during a winter crisis.
More Than a Technical Point
Each hub was a living space — with people, children, volunteers, and a genuine sense of safety, even on the hardest winter days.
Throughout the season, the hubs were visited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, the Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine, representatives of international organisations, local authorities, journalists, and public figures. This confirmed not only the effectiveness of the model, but also its international recognition.
Compliance & Standards
The UHI volunteer team operated in full compliance with international safety and accountability standards: Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA, Anti-Fraud Policy, and Personal Data Protection rules. This ensures full compatibility with the requirements of international donors and humanitarian actors.
Next Step: Season 2026/2027
The pilot results provide the foundation for scaling. In the 2026/2027 season, UHI plans to deploy 20–30 locations across Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, and Chernihiv Oblast, with a target reach of over 100,000 people. Launch: November 2026.
We are looking for organisations, foundations, and donors ready to support this project.
