As Ukraine prepares for a fresh round of peace talks in Abu Dhabi next week, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) is stepping in to help families survive life-threatening cold and power outages.

Mariana, a mother in Kyiv, told CAFOD: “I wrap my baby in a blanket... and when it gets extremely cold, I try to carry her in my arms more often, so she can warm up from my body heat.”

Around half of Kyiv’s residential buildings, about five thousand homes, are without heating, and many lack running water, CAFOD said.

Repeated Russian missile and drone attacks on infrastructure have destroyed repairs.

Josie O’Reilly, CAFOD’s Ukraine country representative, said: “Millions of Ukrainians, many of them in temporary shelters, live in fear of bombardment. People show incredible resilience, but indiscriminate attacks have caused psychological distress and widespread personal loss.”

Christian charity Caritas-Spes Ukraine and CAFOD provide hot meals, emergency food kits, mobile kitchens, and ‘warm hubs’ for those in need.

Tetiana Stawnych, head of Caritas Ukraine, said: “Peace is not just a moment in time; it comes as a process. We are building a society that will be ready for peace, even after a ceasefire.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the next round of talks with Russia and the US will take place on 4th and 5th February in Abu Dhabi.

He said Ukraine seeks “a real and dignified end to the war.”

CAFOD has helped over 185,000 people access food, water, shelter, and psychological support, urging world leaders to back recovery efforts.