KYIV, Ukraine — As Ukraine prepares for another winter of war, intensified Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure are threatening to leave families without electricity, heating and water as temperatures begin to fall. World Central Kitchen (WCK) is preparing for this reality by adapting how we cook, distribute and deliver food across Ukraine. From alternative cooking methods that do not require electricity or gas to new distribution points, our teams are preparing to reach people even when power outages, damaged infrastructure and security conditions make traditional food distribution impossible.

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), the first two weeks of October 2026 marked one of the deadliest periods for civilians in years, with mass-casualty strikes documented in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kramatorsk, Pryluky and Lutsk. On October 14 alone, Russian strikes damaged 30 energy facilities in Kyiv and Kharkiv, leaving at least 600,000 people without power. The attacks also targeted railway infrastructure in five regions. 

For millions of Ukrainians, the threat this winter extends far beyond the frontlines. A single attack on essential services can leave entire neighborhoods without the ability to cook, heat their homes or access basic services.

“The conditions are changing, so we have to adapt with them,” says Yuliia Stefanyuk, WCK Ukraine Response Director. “Last winter, we could safely establish many distribution points across a city. This winter, we are preparing for a different reality. We need to be able to reach people where they are taking shelter and make sure our teams can work even when movement and infrastructure are disrupted.”

Last winter, WCK worked alongside Ukraine’s State Emergency Service to establish temporary meal distribution points across affected cities, including large outdoor tent sites in Kyiv. This year, our teams are preparing additional ways to reach people sheltering in metro stations and other designated shelters during attacks, when residents may spend hours taking cover from air strikes.

WCK is also expanding our operational capacity in Kyiv and positioning additional teams and resources across the country. This will help maintain food deliveries even if damaged roads, disrupted transportation or security conditions make it difficult to move between different parts of a city.

Preparing to cook when the power goes out

With restaurants and community kitchens also at risk of losing electricity or gas, WCK is increasing our capacity to prepare meals using alternative cooking methods, including open fires, large cooking pots and boilers. Teams are also preparing portable stove kits and immediate-use survival kits for families facing prolonged disruptions. 

Stove kits include portable gas stoves, fuel canisters and fire extinguishers, giving families a way to cook when electricity or gas is unavailable. Survival kits contain meals that require no cooking or special preparation, providing immediate options when families cannot access power, gas or hot water for extended periods.

Beyond immediate emergency supplies, WCK is helping communities prepare food for the months ahead. Working with families and local partners across Ukraine, our teams are providing supplies to preserve locally grown vegetables and other produce, extending access to food through the winter while supporting local farmers. 

These preparations build on nearly five years of emergency food response in Ukraine. Since 2022, WCK has served more than 302 million meals and distributed more than 11 million food and vegetable kits. In 2026 alone, our teams have responded to more than 500 emergencies across Ukraine. The organization now combines emergency meals with food kits, community kitchens, cooking equipment, food preservation and food-production programs so that different communities can receive support suited to their circumstances.

“We are not preparing for one scenario,” Stefanyuk says. “We are preparing different ways to keep food moving. Sometimes that means a hot meal after an attack. Sometimes it means a kit, a stove, a community kitchen or food preserved for the winter. The needs are different, and our response has to be flexible enough to meet them.”

As temperatures drop and attacks on essential infrastructure intensify, WCK is preparing to respond to immediate emergencies while strengthening the local food systems and community partnerships that help Ukrainians continue feeding one another through the winter.

For more information or media enquiries, please contact:
Roberta Alves, Director of Media Relations
ralves@worldcentralkitchen.org | +1 202.400.7483

Our full media team is reachable at press@wck.org