Ukraine: 2023–2024 winter risk assessment, November 2023

Overview

The 2023–2024 winter season in Ukraine will coincide with ongoing complex and challenging factors. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country has experienced damage to major infrastructure and homes, mass population movement and displacement, socioeconomic impacts, disruption to health systems and access to essential services. These impacts of war compounding with winter can result in increased risk of excess cold-related morbidity and mortality.

This risk assessment focuses on cold temperatures as a hazard based on historical weather data (this risk assessment is not a forecast predicting weather trends for the 2023–2024 winter season), vulnerable populations at high risk of public health impacts, health service access and delivery and the practical actions that could be taken to reduce the risk of adverse health-related outcomes due to severe cold.

For a broader and more detailed understanding of the public health situation and threats in Ukraine viewed through an all-hazards lens, see the Ukraine public health situation analysis.