idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
Ukraine’s energy support has become a key focus of humanitarian aid to the country: with almost EUR 1 billion allocated, the share of energy support reached more than half of all humanitarian aid during the last winter. A large share of the funding was channeled through pooled international financing instruments, underscoring their growing importance. These findings are based on the latest update of the Ukraine Support Tracker (https://www.kielinstitut.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/), which covers aid allocations through February 2026.
In the winter of 2025/26, energy support became the dominant type of humanitarian aid allocations for Ukraine, including financial and in-kind measures for energy equipment (e.g. generators) as well as for the repair of energy infrastructure. The share of energy aid in total humanitarian aid increased from 15 percent in the autumn and winter of 2022/23 to 19 percent in the following season, and to now 42 percent in 2025/26. Within just three months, between December 2025 and February 2026, almost EUR 1 billion was allocated to energy support, accounting for more than half of all humanitarian aid allocated during this period.
Around 59 percent of energy support is channeled through the UESF
A second trend is the growing use of multilateral instruments for energy support. Between December 2025 and February 2026, EUR 580 million—equivalent to roughly 59 percent—was allocated via the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (UESF). The UESF pools contributions from multiple donors and finances targeted equipment and technical measures to address urgent energy needs. In real terms, UESF contributions during the winter of 2025/2026 reached a record high, more than double the previous peak. During this period, 18 donors contributed to the UESF, with the five largest donors (Sweden, Germany, EU institutions, Norway, and the Netherlands) alone providing around EUR 470 million.
"Energy support has emerged as a central focus of international efforts to support Ukraine during the winter of 2025/26—a period often described as ‘the coldest winter since the outbreak of the war,’" says Taro Nishikawa (https://www.kielinstitut.de/experts/taro-nishikawa/), Project Lead for the Ukraine Support Tracker. "Against this backdrop, pooled funding mechanisms like the Ukraine Energy Support Fund are becoming an increasingly vital tool for filling such urgent gaps."
About the Ukraine Support Tracker
The Ukraine Support Tracker lists and quantifies military, financial, and humanitarian aid pledged to Ukraine since January 24, 2022 (currently through the end of February 2026). It covers 40 countries, specifically the EU member states, other members of the G7, as well as Australia, South Korea, Turkey, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, China, Taiwan, and India. Also, EU institutions are included as a separate donor. The tracker lists government-to-government commitments; private donations or those from international organizations such as the IMF are not included in the main database. Flows going into other countries like, for example, Moldova, are not included.
With regard to sources, the database combines official government sources with information from international media. Aid provided in kind, such as medical supplies, food, or military equipment, is quantified on the basis of market prices or information from previous crises involving government aid. In case of doubt, upper bounds of prices are used.
The Ukraine Support Tracker is constantly being expanded, corrected, and improved. Suggestions are very welcome and can be sent to ukrainetracker@kielinstitut.de.
More information and detailed data can be found on this webpage: https://www.kielinstitut.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/.
For more information on the Ukraine Support Tracker methodology, read this working paper: https://www.kielinstitut.de/de/publikationen/the-ukraine-support-tracker-which-c....
Media Contact:
Elisabeth Radke
Head of Outreach
T +49 431 8814-598
elisabeth.radke@kielinstitut.de
Kiel Institute for the World Economy
Kiel Office
Kiellinie 66
24105 Kiel
Germany
Berlin Office
Chausseestraße 111
10115 Berlin
Germany
Contact
+49 431 8814-1
www.kielinstitut.de
Taro Nishikawa
Kiel Institute Researcher
T +49 431 8814-229
taro.nishikawa@kielinstitut.de
Energy Support as a Share of Humanitarian Aid
Contributions to Ukraine Energy Support Fund
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