Four and a half years since the full-scale Russian invasion, the war in Ukraine remains the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II and one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises today. Every day, Ukrainian families face missile and drone attacks that strike homes, schools, hospitals, and energy facilities. Millions have been displaced inside the country or across Europe, and the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen with no end in sight.
Here in the United States, more than 100,000 Ukrainians rely on Temporary Protected Status for a lawful status and basis for work authorization. Many Ukrainian TPS holders arrived in the war’s early days. Many fled with only what they could carry. Others escaped cities under bombardment or left loved ones behind in search of safety. Humanitarian protections like TPS have allowed them to rebuild their lives — to work, attend school, and contribute to their communities while the war rages on.
A Strong, Longstanding Ukrainian Community in the United States
The United States is home to one of the largest Ukrainian diaspora communities in the world. For generations, Ukrainian Americans have built vibrant neighborhoods, churches, cultural centers, and small businesses across the country — from Pennsylvania and Ohio to Illinois, New York, Washington, and California.
Since 2022, newly arrived Ukrainians have joined these established communities and integrated quickly. They are working, opening businesses, volunteering, enrolling their children in school, and contributing to local economies. Many have become essential members of the workforce in sectors like health care, construction, education, and hospitality. Communities nationwide have stepped up to welcome them, and Ukrainians have embraced the opportunity to build stable, productive lives while remaining connected to their heritage.
These strong community ties — and the support networks already in place — make the United States one of the safest and most stable places for Ukrainians to remain while the war continues.
What is the reality inside Ukraine today?
Russia currently occupies approximately 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and frontlines continue to shift dramatically. Ukrainian cities have been repeatedly bombarded, with strikes increasing in intensity and geographic reach this year. Ukrainian long-range drone strikes have knocked out nearly 40 percent of Russia’s refining capacity, while Ukraine’s energy grid has been close to collapse on several occasions due to large-scale attacks on its energy facilities by Russian drones and missiles. UNHCR confirms prolonged power outages and massive strikes on energy infrastructure, including 14,670 guided aerial bombs, 738 missiles, and nearly 19,000 drone attacks over three winter months. In January 2026, residents of Kyiv spent nearly half of every day without power.
These attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have been accompanied by continued strikes on major cities. Entire communities have been devastated on the frontlines, where the vast majority of civilian casualties have occurred. Since the start of the conflict, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured, with civilian casualties in the tens of thousands.
In September, Russia launched attacks on the cities of Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Pavlohrad. In Dnipro, at least 7 people were killed and over 70 people injured, including nine children. Recent attacks on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih led to 16 fatalities and over 140 injuries, including 23 children.
For people living in Russian‑occupied areas, the risks are even greater. Human rights organizations continue to report arbitrary detention, torture, and conflict‑related sexual violence.
The Human Toll in Ukraine is Staggering
Approximately 10.8 million people need lifesaving humanitarian services and support to survive, with those experiencing the most vulnerability being elderly people, women-headed households, children, and displaced families who face disproportionate protection risks including gender-based violence.
Millions of children live with constant fear, repeated displacement, and severe shortages of water, electricity, and other essentials. Since February 2022, the UN has verified 3,946 children killed or injured, with the actual number likely higher given how difficult such verifications are in a warzone. In addition to creating unsafe conditions, the war in Ukraine had disrupted schooling, robbing children of over four years of education.
Documented cases of conflict‑related sexual violence continue to rise, affecting women, men, and children. Over 1,000 incidents of sexual violence have been reported against civilians and prisoners of war (POWs) since February of 2022, including gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks, and beatings, in addition to other degrading acts of a sexual nature. It is critical to remember that documented incidents represent only a fraction of the reality due to underreporting both inside and outside conflict zones.
Reportedly, Russian authorities were responsible for 89 percent of documented incidents, which are particularly prevalent among Ukrainian detainees. The primary victims of assault have been men; however, women and children have been targeted as well.
Why TPS for Ukraine Matters Now More Than Ever
The U.S. Department of State currently has a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning for Ukraine, the highest possible alert. The Department of State website highlights the dangers of ongoing military operations, checkpoints run by Russian forces, limited access to medical care, unexploded ordnance, and a risk of arbitrary detention. Travel to Ukraine is not advised for any reason.
Yet without an extension, or redesignation of TPS, Ukrainians living in the United States could be forced back into these conditions.
TPS was created by Congress for exactly this situation: when people cannot safely return to their home country because of war, violence, or extraordinary danger. Ukraine clearly meets these criteria, as evidenced by the State Department’s own warning. Ending TPS now would put families at risk and destabilize the lives they have worked hard to rebuild.
Standing With Ukrainian Families
At-risk Ukrainians deserve safety. They deserve stability. They deserve the chance to continue building their lives here while their country remains under attack. Extending TPS for Ukraine is a matter of common sense and foundational American values. We must stand with families who have already endured the devastating consequences of war and ensure they are not forced back into harm’s way.
Congress has the opportunity to act. Bipartisan Ukraine TPS bills have been introduced to safeguard this community, and supporters across the country can help move this legislation forward. It is not too late for you to add your voice. Use Global Refuge’s advocacy action tool to easily send a powerful message to your Members of Congress, urging them to protect Ukrainian families and extend and redesignate TPS.
This is a moment to stand with our Ukrainian neighbors. This is a moment to choose safety, compassion, and common sense.
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