Country: Ukraine Source: REACH Initiative Please refer to the attached file. Executive Summary This document outlines the results of the Cold Spots Risk Assessment for the 2026/2027 winter season in Ukraine. The assessment is intended to support winter preparedness and strategic planning by identifying areas at heightened risk of winter-related humanitarian impacts, informing prioritization within the Winter Response Plan, and supporting operational planning by humanitarian actors, local authorities, and service providers. The war continues to drive displacement, damage to housing, and degradation of critical civilian infrastructure1 , particularly energy, heating and water systems. During the 2025/2026 winter season, repeated attacks on energy infrastructure, combined with freezing temperatures, caused widespread disruptions to electricity, heating and water supply, affecting millions of people across the country. The assessment identifies ‘cold spots’ where winter-related hazards compound with high levels of exposure, population vulnerability, utility disruptions, and reduced coping capacity. Building on previous iterations2 , the 2026/2027 assessment places stronger emphasis on electricity and heating disruptions, given their central role in household thermal comfort, access to water, communications, and essential services during winter. Compared to previous years, the geography of winter risk appears increasingly shaped not only by frontline proximity, but also by broader energy-system disruption affecting large urban and densely populated areas. While the highest levels of risk remain concentrated in the north-east and east of the country, elevated vulnerability is also visible in areas affected by repeated outages, infrastructure pressure, and dependency on centralized services. While maintaining a national overview, the assessment places particular focus on frontline and high-risk areas, where conflict intensity, infrastructure damage, service disruptions, and vulnerable population profiles can create acute winter-related humanitarian risks. Continuous monitoring and engagement with local authorities and communities will be essential to support winterisation planning and prioritize assistance.