In Chernihivska oblast, near the frontlines of the ongoing war in Ukraine, people continue to endure daily challenges as they try to maintain a sense of normal life. Among them are Kateryna*, a young mother expecting her third child, and Olena*, a 78-year-old pensioner caring for her ill husband.
With support from EU Humanitarian Aid, Acted and its partner, the Estonian Refugee Council, have provided Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to over 37,000 individuals affected by the war in Ukraine in 2024 and 2025. This support has helped families, like Kateryna’s and Olena’s, cover their most urgent needs. MPCA is one of the most cost-effective ways to support populations where markets remain functional. It also ensures people’s dignity and autonomy, allowing them to use the assistance exactly how it is needed.
Kateryna lives with her family in a small village close to the front line. Her husband works as a security guard at a vocational school, and they are parents of two daughters, one of whom is a schoolgirl, while the other attends kindergarten and was born during the occupation of their region in March 2022. As Kateryna prepares to welcome their third child in April, the family faces significant financial hardship, with a household income falling below the minimum living wage for a family of four.
“In the past year, our financial situation got worse”, Kateryna shares with the Acted team. “We are currently living on my husband’s salary, and we have no additional sources of income. In 2024, I was diagnosed with heart disease due to my second childbirth, and now I need surgery and plan to have it after giving birth. Our younger daughter is also often getting sick. Last year, we had to take out a loan for her treatment and food.”
Our children are constantly scared because they hear the sounds of drones and rockets flying over our village. They get frightened by the sound of explosions. The older daughter has become very introverted because of this and needs psychological support. The younger daughter was born in March 2022 and doesn’t know what a peaceful life is.
In another village in the same region, Olena and her husband, both retired, are facing the hardships of aging in a war zone. Olena struggles with mobility while Maksym deals with heart issues due to a previous heart attack.
What worries us is that our health is worsening every day. I visit the doctor every month. My husband needs to stay in the hospital on the doctor's recommendations, but he refuses because he is afraid to leave me alone.
Their financial struggles are constant, with medical costs rising. Although they are eligible for disability status, they would have to undergo in-patient treatment and medical examinations to apply, which is difficult to manage given their reliance on each other for daily needs and additional medical expenses.
Their only son serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, adding a layer of emotional strain. “We are very worried about our son, but we have to stay calm and patient because we are his support and moral backbone in this difficult situation. We try not to burden him with our concerns about our health.”
Both women found out about Acted’s multi-purpose cash assistance, funded by the Euorpean Union, through local social media groups managed by their village councils. Kateryna immediately applied. “With the money received from Acted, we bought clothes for the children and stocked up on food. I had been planning to have a check-up due to health problems, but I kept postponing it, since we didn’t have money. Only after receiving that support, I was able to allocate some funds for a doctor’s visit.”
For Kateryna’s family, the assistance has been a much-needed relief.
I’m grateful for this support because it partially covered my everyday expenses for essential things.
Olena shared a similar experience.
With the cash assistance, we were able to make a small stockpile of food. Also, as the costs of the medicines we are using keep rising.
While uncertainties remain, Kateryna and Olena continue to fight for a better future for their families, demonstrating their resilience and determination. Their stories reflect the impact of cash assistance on those living near the frontlines in Ukraine. Through this support, Acted and its partners provide flexible aid, empowering families to address urgent needs and offering both immediate relief and a sense of stability amidst ongoing hardships.
*Names have been changed to protect the beneficiaries’ identities.