The 'innocent hope for peace' demonstrated by Ukrainian children and the determination of all citizens there to look to the future, is helping the country survive into a second winter of Russia's full-blown invasion, according to the senior UNICEF representative based in Kyiv.
The deaths of over 10,000 civilians have been verified by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) since the invasion began in February 2022, although the actual number of fatalities could be much higher.
Over 10 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including more than 6.3 million who have sought refuge outside Ukraine.
The UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, was working in Ukraine before the conflict and has remained there to provide support and services.
Munir Mammadzade is the UNICEF Representative in the country. UN News asked him how children, in particular, are being impacted by the conflict.
Munir Mammadzade: The main challenge faced by Ukraine is the damage and destruction that continues to impact critical infrastructure, including thousands of schools and hospitals, drinking water supply systems, sanitation systems as well as energy infrastructure and heating systems.
Almost every day we hear news about schools and hospitals being affected, children getting injured; even this morning we received news of an attack in Kharkiv.
The longer this lasts, the more people are affected, especially children. Nearly two-thirds of children in Ukraine have been forced to flee their homes at some point during this war.
The longer this lasts, the more people are affected, especially children
Children are already among the most vulnerable to the impacts of the war. Besides insecurity from constant air attacks and air alerts, their lives have been interrupted so they are missing out on schooling, socializing with friends and their social emotional development.
Seventy-three per cent of Ukrainians have reported a decrease in their income and this affects the well-being of children in families. Some parents are unable to provide children with just the basics like winter clothes, appropriate nutrition and blankets.
UN News: What are some of UNICEF's priorities in Ukraine?
Munir Mammadzade: UNICEF works across health, with a focus on maternal and child health to early childhood development, education, skills for adolescents and young people as well as protection issues.
We have ramped up our efforts with the Government of Ukraine and local authorities to support children and families including the distribution of 44,000 winter clothing sets and, particularly right now, other winterization-related measures.
We continue to work with the local authorities to keep critical infrastructure running such as water, heating, health and education facilities.
I have been to Marhanets, one of the communities that is very close to the frontline and witnessed how community members and children are directly benefiting from this UNICEF support.
Here and in other frontline areas, households have received fuel to cover their needs. And we have distributed 40 generators to water utility companies to ensure that systems can keep running.
