Evacuation as a lifeline: Supporting people fleeing Eastern Ukraine
Every day for almost 4 years, people continue to flee frontline and high-risk areas of eastern Ukraine as the war forces families to leave behind their homes, livelihoods, and familiar lives. For many, evacuation is not a single moment, but a long and exhausting journey marked by fear, loss, and uncertainty about what comes next.
Along the way, if they are fortunate, some people may stop at one of the transit centers run by Ukrainian organisations that offer temporary shelter, information, and access to vital services before they move on to safer places.
Since April 2025, ActionAid Eastern Europe, in partnership with East SOS, has been supporting evacuation efforts through the Pavlohrad Transit Centre, with funding from the European Union. The centre serves as a critical stop for people arriving from some of the most dangerous areas of the country.
Evacuations continue from eastern Ukraine
As Ukraine enters the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale war and marks twelve years since Crimea was occupied and the war in the East began, forced displacement and widespread destruction remain part of daily life. Today, an estimated 12.7 million people, around one third of the population still living in Ukraine, depend on humanitarian assistance. Between April 2025 and today, East SOS has evacuated more than 2,570 people, including women, children, elderly, and people with disabilities. Many of them passed through the Pavlohrad Transit Centre after days or weeks of living under shelling, without stable access to electricity, water, or medical care. For some, it was the first moment of relative safety they had experienced in months.
At the transit centre, evacuees receive immediate support: a safe place to rest, basic assistance, referrals to accommodation, and information about onward relocation options. Trained staff and volunteers also provide protection support and help people navigate the next steps, whether that means temporary shelter, transport to another region, or access to social and humanitarian services. For those who arrive exhausted and disoriented, these moments of care can make a difference.
Women and girls disproportionately affected
Women and girls, who have been disproportionately affected by the war, often arrive carrying not only their belongings but also the emotional weight of displacement. Many have fled alone with children or elderly relatives in their care. Through this project, ActionAid Eastern Europe and East SOS work to identify protection needs as early as possible and to ensure that survivors and people at risk of violence are referred to appropriate services in a safe and dignified way.
As the war continues, evacuation remains a lifeline for thousands of civilians trapped in unsafe areas. We will continue to work alongside local responders to ensure that people fleeing danger are not left alone on their journey, but met with safety, dignity, and the possibility of a new beginning.