New Recovery Diary episode on how EU warms up Ukrainians amid harsh winter, no electricity and heating

EU NEIGHBOURS East, in partnership with Ukrainian television channel ICTV, has released the seventh episode of ‘Recovery Diary,’ which focuses primarily on the European Union’s efforts to keep Ukraine warm while Russia attempts to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Following Russian strikes, over 1 million Ukrainians have ended up without electricity, water, and heating in freezing temperatures of around -20°C.

The new episode highlights the latest donation made by the European Commission in January, consisting of 447 emergency generators worth €3.7 million from the EU’s strategic reserves to restore power to hospitals, shelters and critical services.

The generators – mobilised from rescEU strategic reserves hosted in Poland – will be distributed by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine in cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross to the most affected communities.

The episode also shows how the European Union and EU countries are helping to rebuild houses in the Kharkiv region that were destroyed as a result of Russian shelling.

This episode also focuses on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union’s ‘Roam Like at Home’ area.

From the first day of 2026, Ukrainian citizens travelling in EU countries and EU citizens visiting Ukraine are able to make calls, send text messages, and use mobile internet with no additional charges, within the limits of their tariff plan – just like at home.

The European Union remains Ukraine’s strongest partner, playing a critical role in recovery, reconstruction, and the reforms needed for EU accession. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the EU has mobilised €177.5 billion in humanitarian, financial, economic, and military assistance.

The Recovery Diary is a television series produced by EU NEIGHBOURS East in partnership with ICTV. The series documents real progress across Ukraine, highlighting recovery and reconstruction efforts supported by the EU and its Member States.

Watch the episode
Episode on YouTube