The intensification of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this winter did not cause an increase in the number of people leaving the country, but it significantly changed the reasons for departure: for the first time, problems with water supply became one of the motives for leaving, stated UNHCR Representative in Ukraine Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency.

"We are monitoring the situation, including at the borders. Every day, our colleagues and partner teams are at 30 checkpoints. We monitor both departures from Ukraine—and have been doing so since 2022—and returns. We have not seen an increase in the number of people leaving the country. There may have been some movements within Ukraine, but from what we see, these were temporary movements. That is, during very cold weeks, people might go to relatives but then return," she noted.

At the same time, according to the UNHCR Representative, the number of departures abroad has not increased since November, but the structure of the reasons has changed.

"The total number of people leaving—no, it has not increased, but the reasons why they are leaving are more related to energy than before, including water supply, which, for example, we never saw in 2024. Therefore, reasons related to water and electricity are mentioned more often, and concern about water supply is something new," the UNHCR Representative explained.

Responding to a question about the demographic characteristics of those who leave or are internally displaced persons (IDPs), Castel-Hollingsworth noted that there is no clear dominant group.

"It is not the case that one group or another prevails. We saw slightly more young men leaving in September-October after the law changed in August, but this did not continue. Most often, these are families, families with one adult, also with children, vulnerable people, and the elderly," she said.

The UNHCR Representative emphasized that the agency continues daily monitoring of movements both at the border and within the country to respond in a timely manner to the humanitarian needs of the population amid the ongoing war and the crisis in the energy sector.