Since the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has documented at least 14,116 civilians killed and 36,481 injured as of mid-September 2025. The actual toll is likely much higher. The scale of destruction continues to worsen, with an intensification in attacks since June 2025.
Over 20 UN agencies are active in Ukraine, among which the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which works on three main objectives: democratic governance and inclusive social fabric, inclusive and sustainable economic recovery and growth, and sustainable environment and energy transformation.
In that context, UNDP in Ukraine notably supports the functioning of Ukrainian administrations across the country. UNDP has aided in the safe clearance of 800,000 tons of debris and rubble, for instance, and mobilized private investments in the sustainable energy sector, creating 4,562 green jobs in 2024.
UNDP is playing a crucial role in rebuilding the energy production and transmission network, which was severely damaged by attacks, and in clearing mines. Much more is also being done by UNDP to reintegrate veterans into society and help the 4.6 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Ukraine, as Auke Lootsma, a Dutch national and the head of UNDP in Ukraine, explains in this exclusive interview with UNRIC.
What are the main priorities of UNDP in Ukraine?
We are now in the fourth year of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With the recent escalation of attacks, the needs of the population continue to rise.
The most critical sector is energy. Last year, before winter started, there was a huge crisis with blackouts which impacted all sectors of life. Fixing the energy sector is a priority to make it less vulnerable to attacks and support repair work, so that it becomes a greener fit for the EU framework in the perspective of EU accession.
UNDP contracted for 475 MW of power generation equipment. This ensures service for over 10 million people.
Another priority is mine action. Ukraine is littered with explosive landmines, endangering ‘people’s lives, and posing a significant threat to human security. In addition to this human impact, the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance is a limiting factor in agricultural production, notably in wheat and sunflower oil, a key area for Ukrainian exports and a major hindrance to ‘Ukraine’s economic recovery.
UNDP is the lead UN agency in humanitarian mine action in Ukraine. UNDP equipped 202 demining teams within the State Emergency Service, and over 2,000 personnel from local mine action implementing organizations have been trained or supported through capacity-development activities.
To date, over 35,000 square kilometres of land, including agricultural areas, have been returned to productive use – of which 23.9 with UNDP support. Experience shows that it takes decades for any country with that level of contamination to recover.
What are the other main UNDP activities in Ukraine, and do you have all the means to implement them in the current context of budget cuts?
A top priority for us is providing care and support to veterans transitioning out of the conflict. Over 1 million Ukrainians are currently serving in the army. Ukraine has 1.6 million veterans as of January 2025, a number that is expected to grow to 5-6 million post-war. One of our studies is revealing significant challenges, including 71% veterans with physical injuries, one-third showing PTSD symptoms, and 41% of those under 60 struggling to find employment.
Providing support in finding suitable work must happen with the required levels of dignity and productivity. In a post-war situation, supporting ‘veterans’ reintegration will be a key priority for the government. In 2024, UNDP prioritized community-based reintegration approaches for veterans, developing programmes in six communities and two oblasts.
Another focus is internally displaced persons (IDPs). Because ‘it’s a very traumatic experience to lose your home and settle in a place where you ‘don’t know anyone, social support is required. Let us recall that some 6 million Ukrainians are abroad. In 2024 there were 4.6 million registered IDPs – for a country that had 41 million inhabitants before the war. UNDP helps the government provide medical care, social services and schooling for children.
Lastly, the economy. We need to ensure the country continues to function. The transition towards a modern and competitive economy is ongoing.
On the question of money, ‘it’s clear that Ukraine is a huge recipient of both humanitarian and recovery aid, not counted in millions but billions of dollars. Some of the UN agency offices in Ukraine are now the largest in the world. UNDP has 500 employees, channelling some 200 million dollars a year. Can we do more? Of course we can. Ukraine is a vast country with huge needs. But compared with funding cuts elsewhere in the world, we are less affected.
What is broadly your assessment of the damage done to the country by the conflict, and is it an obstacle to reconstruction?
Large-scale destruction has happened across the country, with a lot of damage done to civilian properties in the frontline regions and the border areas that have been occupied. If you owned a house, you have lost practically everything, because it is your main economic asset. People are facing bankruptcy, on top of the trauma of losing a house that has been blown up. The government attempts to provide compensation, but the process is complex. Many people continue to face difficulties in meeting their basic needs. Poverty rates rose from 20.6% in 2021 to 35.5% in 2023.
The war has also led to very targeted attacks on infrastructure, like power plants, hospitals, schools, high-rise buildings, train stations, etc, which have a huge impact on civilians. The latest figure we have is 524 billion dollars needed for recovery in Ukraine over the next decade. However, that only scratches the surface, as many other costs will be incurred.
Even if the attacks are still ongoing, we can already use some smart strategies to rebuild. Instead of rebuilding one big power plant, you can build several little ones, so that if one is taken out, it ‘doesn’t collapse the whole grid. When the war is over, the reconstruction effort will be massive. President Zelenskyy has mentioned a “”Marshall Plan””. Something like that would be needed for Ukraine to bring it back on track.
What are the main challenges for UNDP’s work on the ground?
Everybody sees the news about the attacks, and they are of course an impeding factor for our work on the ground. We also have to take care of the security of our staff. We ‘don’t have any concrete examples of our staff being specifically targeted. But the closer you get to the frontline, the more you risk getting into a “”wrong time, wrong place”” situation. We shift from normal vehicles to armoured vehicles in these areas, for instance.
We care about the mental health of our staff. Almost everybody in Ukraine has a relative in the army. Colleagues always have on their mind that maybe it is the last time they will see their relatives. The anxiety and stress level is different for our Ukrainians colleagues.
What is the UNDP approach to refugees and internally displaced persons?
The Ukrainian government ‘doesn’t see the people outside of the country as refugees. Its priority is to get these Ukrainians back. And when they do, they will be part of the reconstruction effort and will need support to reintegrate. My feeling is that more can be done to reach out to Ukrainians living in each EU member state, to understand their current situation and how we can best support them.
The 4.6 million Internally displaced people (IDPs) registered in 2024 are an important group from the UN perspective of “”leaving no one behind”.” Ukraine is a highly developed country, so rather than doing the work ourselves, like in other crisis situations, we help the government use its own systems, which are in place and working. The government has a budget and a social welfare system. IDPs are entitled to social welfare, like everywhere else in Europe.
A study was published in December 2024 on Ukrainian youth. What are the main consequences of the conflict for the younger generation?
Young people have high hopes for EU integration and are very pro-EU. They perceive the war as a significant obstacle to their hopes and dreams of becoming EU citizens, studying, or finding a good job.
The study shows that 42% of young people have concerns about health issues (their own and loved ones), 31% about lack of money and 26% about physical safety. No less than 25% say they suffer from poor moods, depression, anxiety and loneliness. Disruptions to education and career development are very damaging. The resolution of this conflict is particularly important for them, so that their future is restored.
What is your message to the EU institutions?
My message is clear: ‘Ukraine’s recovery must be treated as a long-term global commitment, not just as a short-term emergency response. What you see in Ukraine proves that local leadership, innovation, and resilience are already driving change. The international community must now match that determination, with sustained investment, deeper partnerships, and flexible support, aligned with ‘Ukraine’s own vision of the future.
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