Elderly Ukrainians are currently experiencing a dire situation reminiscent of the hardships that the country's oldest citizens have not encountered since World War II. With temperatures dropping to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, many, like 91-year-old Lidia Teletsjuk, find themselves struggling to cope without adequate heating and water in their apartments. The ongoing conflict has created conditions that make survival increasingly difficult for the elderly, who are forced to bundle up and employ makeshift solutions to use limited resources.

The suffering of the elderly population intensifies as Russia continues to conduct extensive attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leading to a significant lack of electricity, heating, and hot water in cities across the country. For Teletsjuk, the current winter stands out as the second worst she has experienced, following her memories of the brutal winter of 1942 during World War II. As she deals with the challenges of the frigid conditions, she articulates the sentiment shared by many of her peers: “It is terrible. It is difficult for us to survive.”

As the conflict marks nearly four years since the beginning of full-scale war, the humanitarian crisis is escalating particularly for the vulnerable elderly population. The plight of senior citizens like Teletsjuk highlights the broader implications of the conflict on civil society, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian aid and support as these individuals endure unimaginable challenges in their daily struggle for survival amid ongoing hostilities and harsh winter conditions.