Four Years of War and Freezing Winters: Ukrainian Farmers Feed the Nation Amid Blackouts

February 18, 2026

Kyiv – Four years into full-scale war, civilians across Ukraine are battling freezing temperatures, rolling blackouts, and diminishing humanitarian support. Yet Ukrainian farmers continue to plant, harvest, mill, and move food, feeding their communities and keeping global grains supplies stable. 

Rolling blackouts from systematic attacks on energy infrastructure have left families without heat or electricity for hours - sometimes days - at a time as temperatures plummet. Yet as humanitarian needs peak, international funding is waning.  

A new Mercy Corps  report forecasting scenarios into June 2026 indicates that the most likely trajectory in the coming months is a setback to recovery, driven by intensifying military activity. The report outlines four potential scenarios and warns that escalating shocks to energy systems, displacement, and strained public services will continue to push civilian needs higher without sustained support.  

Mercy Corps Country Director for Ukraine, Vicki Aken, says:  

"As negotiations to end the war stall, we urge parties to remember that after four years of humanitarian investment, Ukrainians still need sustained support to transition from crisis to recovery.  

“When we hear about battlefields, people don’t necessarily understand that this is not empty land. One farmer we support, Serhii from Mykolaiv, saw his 1035-hectare farm turned into a battlefield. Everything was destroyed, along with the livelihoods of hundreds of people economically dependent on his farm and grain crops.  

“Despite unimaginable hardship, the farmers we work with are not just surviving; they are keeping supply chains moving and supporting the economies of entire communities, an extraordinary achievement in the middle of war. We helped Serhii rebuild his business from scratch. The team restored his warehouse, equipment, and even contributed to restoring the village’s electricity supply – demonstrating resilience and strong community spirit despite significant losses. 

"The world may have shifted its focus to other crises, but civilians across Ukraine  are still living this one. Every winter without heat, every harvest season under threat, every family forced to choose between food and fuel - this is the daily reality four years on."  

Mercy Corps’ business grants have helped thousands of farmers maintain production and connect to export markets that strengthen both local communities and global food security. Across Ukraine’s fields and villages, these farmers are proving that recovery begins locally. With continued international support, these efforts can shift from survival to renewal. Supporting them now means investing in Ukraine’s long‑term stability, its food systems, and the future millions are still fighting to build. 

 

About Mercy Corps in Ukraine   
Since the full‑scale war began in 2022, Mercy Corps has supported more than 1.1 million war‑affected people in Ukraine and neighboring countries. We have provided cash assistance; household, food, and hygiene kits; temporary shelter; and psychosocial support. We have also helped families and communities recover by restoring access to water and energy services and by providing grants to micro, small, and medium businesses and farming enterprises to rebuild their livelihoods. 

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