“The federal government must finally wake up and make sure there is real support for Ukraine,” said Member of the German Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt in her recent video address.

We are grateful for this clear position, for the attention, and for the recognition that the situation remains critical. Too often, what is happening is reduced to headlines. In reality, this is a silent humanitarian crisis. Those who suffer most remain largely unseen — elderly people, immobile residents, and families with children isolated in their apartments during blackouts, without reliable heat, water supply, or electricity. It matters when leaders speak openly about this and help bring visibility to these realities.

At the same time, political decisions carry a different level of responsibility. Germany is the largest donor of energy assistance, and this support is essential. But Ukraine also needs the ability to defend itself. Without protection, energy systems, homes, and civilian lives remain under constant threat. The price for waging this war against civilians must be high and it must continue to rise.

🤝 We are also deeply grateful for the incredible solidarity shown through donations from ordinary people in Germany and beyond. The level of support has been overwhelming and deeply moving. It allows us to reach people who would otherwise be left alone in extremely difficult conditions.

At the beginning of the week in Kyiv, our Ukraine2Power team met with Katrin Göring-Eckardt for an open and thoughtful exchange about the situation across the country, the ongoing energy crisis, and the urgent need for resilient, decentralized energy solutions.

Kostiantyn Gura and Viktoriia Mamoilyk spoke about Ukraine2Power’s work in renewable and decentralized energy. Darya Romanenko and Kateryna Pavlova presented our humanitarian response to repeated attacks on energy infrastructure, including the distribution of more than 700 heating kits to households left without reliable heat or electricity.

Through this work, we hear personal stories every day. Kyiv’s urban structure makes the impact of blackouts especially severe. Many people live in high-rise buildings, particularly on the left bank. From the very first distributions, it became clear that the need is far greater than expected — in reality, almost every household is affected in one way or another.

The conversation focused on the reality on the ground, the daily challenges Ukrainians face, and how localised, decentralised energy solutions can help people stay safe, connected, and resilient.

But humanitarian support and technical solutions alone are not enough. We expect decisive steps from policymakers. There must be accountability for attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population.