Food parcels and cash assistance from the UN: who among Ukrainians is eligible for support in 2026?

Cuts in funding for humanitarian programmes are changing the rules for accessing aid for Ukrainians affected by the war. Today, support from international organisations is provided selectively, but with a focus on regions near the front line and people in the most difficult circumstances. Find out more about who is eligible for cash or food assistance from the UN and under what conditions it is provided

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More than half a million Ukrainians continue to receive humanitarian aid from UN agencies in the form of food parcels, bread or cash payments. At the same time, due to limited funding, assistance is currently focused only on those in the most difficult circumstances. As reported by RBC-Ukraine, the UN World Food Programme has revised its priorities and support formats, maintaining its focus on frontline regions and the most vulnerable population groups.

Who exactly can count on payments of up to 10,800 hryvnia or food, in which regions assistance is provided, and how it works in practice — we will tell you more in this article.

What kind of assistance does the UN provide: money or food

The format of humanitarian support directly depends on the situation in a particular community. If shops are not operating in a settlement or access to food is limited due to hostilities, people are given food packages designed to last for about a month. In addition, some communities receive fresh bread baked by local bakeries. This approach ensures a minimum level of food security in areas where markets have been virtually destroyed.

In more stable areas where trade is functioning, the main focus is on cash assistance. This allows people to decide for themselves how to spend the money — on food, medicine or other basic needs. This format is currently the main one for most recipients of UN support in Ukraine.

Which Ukrainians will be entitled to a pension supplement of 1,000 hryvnia in 2026 — we discussed this in our previous article.

What is included in the food packages and who are they intended for?

Food packages are put together with long-term storage and minimal preparation in mind. They contain basic products — cereals, flour, pasta, canned food, oil, sugar, and salt. Such a package covers a significant part of a person's monthly calorie needs and meets international humanitarian food standards.

This format of assistance is primarily intended for residents of frontline areas, where electricity and gas supply interruptions are systemic. Changing the composition of the kits is difficult due to logistics and safety standards, so the UN's main strategy is to gradually expand cash assistance where possible.

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Who has priority in receiving assistance from the UN?

Due to funding cuts, support is only provided to those who meet vulnerability criteria. Priority is given to people who live near the front line or have been forced to evacuate. Assistance is also provided to the elderly, people with disabilities, large families and households that have lost their source of income due to the war.

Many of these people have been living for years in conditions of constant danger, destroyed infrastructure and limited access to markets, so humanitarian support is often the only way for them to meet their basic needs.

About financial assistance for military personnel in 2026, we provide detailed information at the link.

In which areas does the UN support programme operate?

Currently, UN humanitarian programmes cover seven regions of Ukraine: Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Sumy. In communities closest to the fighting, food aid prevails, while in relatively more stable areas, cash assistance prevails.

This allows aid to be adapted to the actual conditions on the ground and minimises risks to people and humanitarian workers.

What payments can Ukrainians receive from the UN?

Some programmes provide fixed amounts of cash assistance. In particular, after shelling that has damaged their homes, or during evacuation, people can receive a one-time payment of up to 10,800 hryvnia per person.

There are also regular support programmes — for example, monthly payments of 1,200 hryvnia for residents of frontline areas where markets continue to operate. The duration of such assistance depends on the format of the programme and available resources.

Read also: Prices for one-room flats in Ukraine in 2025–2026. Where is the cheapest housing?

How is the selection process carried out and do I need to apply?

You do not need to contact the UN yourself or register online. Recipients are selected through local authorities and humanitarian partner organisations working directly in the communities. Registration is only carried out when assistance is planned to be provided, and information about this is disseminated in advance by local authorities.

The process is controlled at several levels — documents are checked, lists of recipients are verified between organisations, and monitoring teams work on the ground. There is also a hotline where violations can be reported.

Why is not everyone receiving aid from the UN, and what will happen next?

The need for food and cash support in Ukraine remains high — millions of people still do not have stable access to food and income. At the same time, funding for humanitarian programmes has been reduced, resulting in a more than twofold decrease in the number of recipients compared to the beginning of the year.

Under these conditions, international organisations are forced to concentrate their resources on those in critical situations. Priorities are regularly reviewed, and aid formats are adapted to security and logistical realities.

Reminder! Ukraine is launching an initiative that allows people to check their health for free, without queues or referrals. Read more about the Health Screening 40+ programme and how to get tested here.

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