Country: Ukraine Source: CARE Please refer to the attached file. Kyiv, Ukraine – 11.06.2025As calls for a ceasefire echo across the world, Ukraine is facing one of the most violent escalations since the full-scale invasion began. Almost every night, hundreds of drones and missiles are raining down on cities and villages, killing dozens of civilians — including children — and injuring many more. This growing wave of violence is not only devastating lives but also threatening the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid and putting aid workers at risk.The strikes represent assaults on civilian infrastructure — affecting families and children who are forced into bomb shelters night after night. In Odesa, a maternity hospital and emergency medical station were hit. The city centre of Sumy has been bombarded and a record number of almost 500 simultaneous mass casulaty attacks – a combination of drones, guided bombs and missiles – have struck Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro nightly since late May. In May alone, according to INSO reports, 159 Ukrainians, including children, were killed in the attacks, and nearly 900 were wounded. The amount of shelling in May increased by almost 9% compared to April. And compared to May last year - by almost 50%: a significant escalation in violence.“CARE calls for urgent compliance with International Humanitarian Law to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian aid can safely reach the increasing numbers of people in need. As we see from our partnership with several women-led Ukrainian organisations, as well as from our own experience, women and girls show immense leadership and courage in responding to help their communities, so they are the ones exposed to even more risks” - says Daria Chekalova, Advocacy Advisor at CARE Ukraine.Humanitarian access in Ukraine is increasingly compromised due to ongoing attacks that directly impact the delivery of aid and endanger staff. Since January, humanitarian organizations in Ukraine have faced at least 109 access-related incidents, ranging from logistical disruptions to direct attacks on humanitarian operations and personnel.In just the last two months, two humanitarian workers have lost their lives, and 16 more have been injured while carrying out their duties to assist civilians.Yevheniia Afonina, Program Manager at CARE’s partner NGO Avalyst in Donetsk oblast explains: “Each mission feels like walking a tightrope. We assess risks every morning, call our staff to confirm they are safe, and recheck the location before setting out. The psychological burden is growing for the people we serve and for our team. Many of them live in constant fear and isolation. Yet we go — because for some, we may be the only help they receive. In times like these, our presence means survival, dignity, and hope.”The determination to show up — despite daily threats — is shared by humanitarian teams across Ukraine. While mobile missions in Donetsk region bring vital support to remote and frontline communities, similar needs are pressing in the country’s south, where civilians endure repeated displacement and trauma.In Kherson oblast, NGO Posmishka UA supports women and children with programs including protection and psychosocial support.“For people living near the frontline, survival goes beyond shelter and food. It’s about restoring a sense of safety and connection,” said Anna Chernova, Program Director at Posmishka UA. “Psychosocial support helps rebuild trust — in people, in institutions, and in the future. Mental health care cannot wait until the war ends. In communities repeatedly affected by shelling and displacement, untreated psychological trauma becomes a silent epidemic”.As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, CARE joins other aid organizations to call for urgent compliance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must be protected. There must be an end to the nightly attacks on cities and towns, which result in the deaths and injury of civilians, destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure, and the terrifying of entire populations. Aid workers must be safeguarded. Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be ensured. Abiding by the rules of war is not a choice, it is a legal obligation.For more information, please contact:Halyna BilakCommunications coordinator at CARE UKRAINEBilak@care.de