Nearly 37% of Ukrainians are now living in poverty as the war continues to devastate the country’s economy, according to humanitarian groups, a fourfold increase compared with pre-war levels that highlights the scale of the crisis as another winter approaches, according to Hope for Ukraine, a major humanitarian organisation operating in the country.

The sustained fighting and large-scale displacement have pushed millions into hardship, with more than a quarter of Ukrainian households now including an internally displaced person (IDP), a veteran, or a family member disabled by the war. Over 65% of children are living below the poverty line, leaving the country’s social fabric under severe strain as dependence on public transfers and humanitarian aid deepens.

“The situation has become systemic — not a temporary shock,” said Yuriy Boyechko, CEO of Hope For Ukraine. “Low-income families are suffering the most, and inequality is widening fast.”

Regional disparities have also intensified. In front-line and recently liberated areas, nearly half of all households report damage to homes or assets, while many struggle with severe food insecurity and limited access to basic services. By contrast, wages in safer, higher-skilled sectors in western and central Ukraine have continued to rise, fuelling what analysts describe as a “two-tier recovery” that risks further marginalising war-affected communities.

As Ukraine braces for another harsh winter and continued hostilities, humanitarian groups warn that the deepening poverty crisis — especially among children and displaced families — could have long-lasting consequences for the country’s recovery and stability.