Main image: UNICEF/Oleksii Filippov. Rescue workers extinguish a fire in a residential building in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
In Ukraine, more than 236,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged during the war, leaving over 2.5 million housing units — roughly 10% of the country’s total housing stock — unavailable. This is stated in a report by the UN International Organization for Migration, which describes the situation in Ukraine as an “unprecedented housing crisis.”
According to the report, housing availability and affordability have been significantly affected by a shortage of municipal housing, a poorly regulated rental market, and the mass displacement of people fleeing the war.
Experts from the IOM note that around 10.6 million Ukrainians — nearly a quarter of the pre-war population — have been forced to leave their homes. Most have fled abroad. Two-thirds of the 3.7 million displaced people who remained in Ukraine face difficulties paying for housing.
“For many, their reliance on the rental market has exhausted family savings,” the report states.
According to the assessment, displaced people often spend 50% or more of their income on rent.
As the war continues, the report notes, addressing the housing needs of displaced Ukrainians remains a critical priority.
“IOM is dedicated to helping internally displaced people, and the communities hosting them, build lasting futures. This includes training for new skills, connecting people with jobs, and securing stable homes,” said Robert Turner, head of the IOM mission in Ukraine.
