CommunicationPublished on 20 February 2026
Switzerland's support for people affected by the war in Ukraine
Switzerland has been implementing various measures to support people affected by the war in Ukraine since 24 February 2022. These measures range from humanitarian aid and efforts towards peace, mine action and financial aid to the granting of protection status S for people from Ukraine seeking temporary protection in Switzerland. As of 31 December 2025, Switzerland had provided around CHF 6,08 billion to support Ukrainians affected by the war, both in Switzerland and abroad.
Switzerland focuses on providing support for the Ukrainian people where needs are most acute on the ground, drawing on its long-standing presence and experience in Ukraine which dates back to the country's reform efforts in the 1990s. It is particularly committed to reforms and good governance, human rights and humanitarian aid as well as the promotion of sustainable economic growth.
From Kyiv via Sumy and Lviv to Kharkiv: an interactive map shows the federal government's support for the people affected by the war in Ukraine. Click on the image above to access the map.
Today, around one-third of the Ukrainian population is dependent on humanitarian aid. This gives Switzerland's activities there a strong humanitarian focus. These humanitarian projects are complementary to the long-term priorities of Switzerland's cooperation programme and are geared towards achieving effective results as a joint effort.
Switzerland has been supporting Ukraine's reform efforts since the 1990s. Since the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine, three areas have been a priority for the country: resilience, reforms and reconstruction. Switzerland has therefore decided to support efforts related to emergency aid, peace and human rights, more efficient public services (including digitalisation and decentralisation) and sustainable economic growth, also with the involvement of the Swiss private sector.
First response: intensification and adaptation of support
The Russian war of aggression has directly impacted the humanitarian situation of the Ukrainian population. This is why Switzerland's activities there developed a strong humanitarian component after 24 February 2022, with a focus on clarifying needs and delivering relief supplies. The federal government's support aligned with the cooperation programme's priorities at the time, which included:
- strengthening democratic institutions
- improving health (improving basic services)
- sustainable urban development (e.g. energy efficiency, sustainable mobility)
- strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (agricultural SMEs, access to financial services)
These long-term activities were adapted as needed and continued to be carried out.
- For example, the ‘improving health’ priority was expanded to include rehabilitation of war trauma and promotion of mental health.
- Switzerland has also been committed to digitalisation and decentralisation in Ukraine since 2015. The E-Governance for Accountability and Participation (EGAP) project digitises important administrative services. This is especially important in wartime, as it can simplify access to services, increase government transparency, promote public participation in decision-making processes and reduce corruption.
- In addition, Switzerland promotes equal access to education and the strengthening of local governance. Since 2022, this project also includes the construction of protection spaces in schools and the distribution of relief goods to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in schools.
- The urban development and mobility projects have also been adjusted to factor in new IDP populations and changing socio-economic circumstances (e.g. barrier-free access to services and transport).
Country programme 2025–28
To ensure that Switzerland can continue providing effective support, the Federal Council plans to allocate CHF 5 billion to Ukraine and the surrounding region from 2025 to 2036.
CHF 1.5 billion has been earmarked for the first phase until 2028 as part of the IC Strategy 2025–28. On 12 February 2025, the Federal Council adopted the Ukraine country programme, which focuses on three main areas:
- economic recovery,
- public services,
- protection of the civilian population and peace.
The Ukraine country programme allows aid for the country to be administered from a single source. The project team for the programme is headed by the Federal Council delegate for Ukraine, Jacques Gerber, and draws on the existing processes and expertise of the Federal Administration.
Winter aid
Targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure have destroyed over half of the country's energy facilities. As a result, millions of people do not have adequate access to electricity, heating and water. Over the last two winters, Switzerland has provided a total of CHF 84.5 million for winter aid, with a focus on emergency repairs of destroyed civilian infrastructure (e.g. in the energy, road and healthcare sectors). This winter aid programme builds on existing experience and networks.
Support from Swiss specialists on site
Since February 2022, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has deployed specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) to Ukraine and Moldova to reinforce Swiss representations in both countries and support humanitarian organisations on the ground (ICRC, UN, NGOs).
Through WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) programmes, the SHA has been able to support around two million people thus far. For instance, two SHA engineering and WASH specialists developed short and medium-term solutions to mitigate the impact of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023. The SHA plans to support a further two million people in Ukraine by 2027.
The substantial increase in Swiss support for Ukraine has also driven the growth of development cooperation and peacebuilding staff at the Swiss embassy. The strong presence of the Swiss embassy in Kyiv allows Switzerland to monitor and ensure the quality and effectiveness of its projects in Ukraine.
Financial assistance and multilateral support
In providing financial assistance, Switzerland makes use of instruments of international organisations such as the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which have set up funds to pool the contributions of various countries to Ukraine.
Through the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF), Switzerland is helping to urgently repair destroyed energy infrastructure with a contribution of CHF 54 million. It has also allocated CHF 18 million to the Energy Community's Ukraine Energy Support Fund, for instance to provide equipment for the country's energy infrastructure (where possible via Swiss partners).
Switzerland has also contributed CHF 3 million to Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, a World Bank initiative that is surveying the damage caused by the war and evaluating which repairs need to be prioritised.
Switzerland is supporting EBRD funds (Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership) with over CHF 20 million. This is intended to provide grants for modernising and restoring municipal infrastructure in Ukraine with a focus on energy efficiency.
Switzerland also contributes to two specific EBRD funds. Switzerland supports the private sector in Ukraine through the Small Business Impact Fund, which improves conditions for SMEs via advisory services, strengthening supply chains, access to financing and the establishment of industrial parks. Switzerland is contributing CHF 11.5 million to this fund. The EBRD's multi-donor account also promotes reforms through comprehensive political engagement and capacity development. SECO is contributing CHF 7.25 million to this programme.
In addition, the EBRD has launched a facility to revitalise the market for war risk insurance in Ukraine. This facility creates an insurance mechanism for war risks to counteract the withdrawal of international reinsurance companies from the Ukrainian market in 2022. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, Switzerland signed an agreement backing the facility with a total of CHF 5 million.
Through the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Switzerland has contributed CHF 9.5 million to a blended finance instrument that provides loans to farmers and other businesses in the agricultural sector. Through the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets, Switzerland is also investing in the Horizon Capital Growth Fund, which promotes start-ups in the IT and export sectors and through which agricultural businesses continue to have access to loans.
SECO also supports projects at municipal level in Ukraine. The IMF Ukraine Capacity Development Fund, to which Switzerland contributes CHF 7.5 million, supports the Ukrainian government's economic reform agenda, the goal of which is maintaining economic and financial stability.
In addition to concrete cooperation projects, managing multilateral instruments is also important. In this context, Switzerland represents Ukraine on the EBRD's Executive Board. The Federal Council has decided that Switzerland will contribute CHF 96.11 million to the EBRD's capital increase for Ukraine. The additional capital will support business environment reforms and joint climate investments with the private sector as part of reconstruction efforts. Switzerland is also contributing EUR 6.4 million to finance Ukraine's share of the capital increase.
Funding overview
Since February 2022, Switzerland has provided over CHF 900 million for international cooperation (IC) activities in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. This involves, for example, the delivery of relief goods, support for health systems, decentralisation, digitalisation, vocational education and training, SMEs, and the strengthening of the agricultural sector. In Ukraine, working with local actors is particularly relevant – the country has a significant number of well-qualified people who have both the networks and the know-how to provide immediate, flexible responses. This includes facilitating humanitarian access to the last few kilometres in frontline areas that are too dangerous for most international actors.
Ukraine (IC)
Ukraine (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, SECO)
Ukraine newstickerUkraine has become one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. According to estimates, over one-third of its territory – more than 139,000 km2 – may be contaminated with mines and other explosive ordnance. This is an area about four times the size of Switzerland.
Switzerland and Ukraine jointly hosted the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC2024) in Lausanne on 17 and 18 October 2024. Participants at the conference adopted the Lausanne Call for Action, which calls on states to take concrete measures on mine action, both in Ukraine and around the world.
Building on this support, Switzerland launched ten projects with humanitarian demining organisations, most of which are Swiss organisations with world-renowned expertise in the field: the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), the Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD), the machine manufacturers GCS and Digger, and APOPO (a specialist in demining with animals). Switzerland also supports the work of international organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Humanity&Inclusion (HI) and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
All these projects allow Switzerland to work in the most contaminated regions of Ukraine (Kherson, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Kyiv region). The teams first carry out a precise analysis to identify the quantity and type of mines and explosive ordnance. Sometimes they can demonstrate that certain closed zones can be opened to the public without any concrete demining efforts. In the first phase alone, stakeholders cleared 40,000 km2 in just two years. If the land is actually contaminated, the organisations demine it either manually or with machines, depending on the terrain and type of contamination. At the same time, Swiss partner organisations are carrying out intensive prevention work in schools and communities. Certain projects also include financial support for victims and rehabilitation. In addition, Switzerland concluded a contract with the Swiss company Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) to supply three mine clearance systems and training courses to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
Switzerland had already supported humanitarian mine action in Ukraine prior to the Federal Council's decision. In 2022 and 2023, the FDFA allocated CHF 15.2 million to the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD). Additionally, the DDPS delivered a machine from the Jura-based Digger Foundation to Ukraine.
Without justice, lasting peace will not return to Ukraine. Switzerland therefore supports mechanisms and processes for the prosecution of crimes under international law, including war crimes and the crime of aggression. Joined by 42 other states, Switzerland referred the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and, at the Court's request, provided support for the investigation by temporarily deploying forensic specialists. This made it possible for the Chief Prosecutor to open the investigation immediately. Switzerland is participating in efforts to establish a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine and will decide on its support for the tribunal in due course.
However, given the scale of crimes related to Russia's military aggression, it will be impossible to prosecute all cases. Switzerland is therefore helping Ukraine establish other mechanisms and activities to address criminal accountability. To this end it is supporting Ukrainian NGOs, the OSCE and the UN in documenting violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights, which can then be used in any truth-seeking processes that may be initiated in future.
In addition, Switzerland is helping the Ukrainian authorities search for and identify missing persons. Not knowing the fate of a disappeared relative is an enormous burden for families as well as an obstacle to efforts to foster peace and social cohesion.
Switzerland is also supporting the Ukrainian initiative to provide comprehensive reparation measures for war victims. It is a member of the Register of Damage for Ukraine, an international body run by the Council of Europe, and is funding consultations between Ukrainian authorities and war-torn communities to ensure that any future reparations mechanisms address their needs.
Switzerland held a summit on peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden on 15-16 June 2024. The overarching goal of the summit was to jumpstart a future peace process. Some 100 delegations attended the summit, including 55 heads of state and government leaders from all regions of the world. The conference concluded with a joint communiqué in which the vast majority of participating states agreed on shared positions and next steps toward a future peace process. The Bürgenstock Communiqué has so far received support from 95 countries and international organisations.
High-level summit on peace in Ukraine dossier
Joint Communiqué on a Peace FrameworkIn early July 2022, Ignazio Cassis, the then-president of the Swiss Confederation, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal brought all major partners (EU, international organisations) together for the first time to advance Ukraine's recovery process. Called the Ukraine Recovery Conference, this meeting yielded a framework called the Lugano Declaration, which noted that Ukraine was responsible for steering the process, but that reforms must continue in parallel. The Lugano Principles, which are contained within the Lugano Declaration, list common benchmarks for the future. 59 states and organisations with delegations took part in this conference.
The Ukraine Recovery Conference was held in London in 2023, in Berlin in 2024 and in Rome in 2025. It will be held in Poland in 2026.
Since the start of Russia's military aggression, the situation in Ukraine has also been repeatedly discussed in various organisations. The UN Security Council, for example, has regularly debated the situation in Ukraine.
In the UN General Assembly and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2023 to 2024, Switzerland has strongly condemned Russia's military aggression and repeatedly called for compliance with international law and protection of civilians.
The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva – also with the support of Switzerland – has set up a commission of inquiry to gather information on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in connection with the conflict.
Switzerland also regularly voices its position on the situation in Ukraine when the topic is discussed at the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
UN Security Council newsticker
«It is essential in the medium term to bring everyone to the table»
«It was a major shock but it hasn't weakened the Council of Europe, it has made it stronger»
A credit of CHF 9 million for scientific solidarity in favour of Ukrainian researchers in Switzerland has been set up via the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
The Swiss government has been working to protect Ukraine's rich cultural heritage by funding projects run by civil society actors and by providing financial support to international organisations such as UNESCO and the OSCE. In order to prevent the destruction or illegal transfer of Ukrainian cultural property, funds have been allocated to increase border controls and to establish an online platform to facilitate the exchange of information between countries.
Protective packaging materials that are no longer available in Ukraine were delivered to over 150 museums throughout the country to safeguard their collections. Switzerland has also supported research projects to preserve Ukraine's at-risk archaeological cultural heritage. In addition, several unique works from the collections of the National Art Museum and the Rodovid Gallery in Kyiv have been brought to Switzerland for conservation and public exhibition. A collection of books in Ukrainian has been built up in public libraries in Switzerland with financial support from the Swiss government.
On 28 February 2022, the Federal Council decided to adopt EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, thereby strengthening their impact. Switzerland also applied the EU's subsequent sanctions packages within a very short period of time.
The sanctions include targeted measures against 1,818 individuals and 507 organisations (asset freezes and travel bans), numerous measures in the financial sector, trade bans on certain goods and a ban on providing certain services to the Russian government or Russian companies. In addition, Switzerland participates in the price caps on Russian crude oil and petroleum products. Switzerland ensures that sanctions contain exemptions so as not to hinder humanitarian activities.
Switzerland's adoption of EU sanctions does not alter its neutrality in any way. Switzerland continues to fully uphold its neutrality in the strict sense of the term, i.e. the law of neutrality. It does not favour any warring party militarily. However, the Federal Council used the leeway allowed by its neutrality policy: in deciding to adopt the EU's sanctions against Russia, it took into account the fact that Russia's military aggression against Ukraine is a serious violation of the most fundamental norms of international law.
Full, effective implementation of the sanctions imposed is a priority for the Federal Council. Cooperation between Switzerland and its international partners functions smoothly in this area at the technical level, with those responsible in the Federal Administration exchanging information with sanctioning authorities from various countries on a daily basis. The exchange of information is possible under the Embargo Act and is actively practised by the Swiss authorities. Switzerland is determined to continue its good cooperation with partner countries in a constructive manner, based on shared values and objectives, and to intensify it where necessary.
Measures related to the situation in Ukraine (SECO) (de,fr,it)
Questions and answers on Switzerland's neutralityIn March 2022, the Federal Council activated protection status S for the first time, which grants asylum seekers from Ukraine a right of residence without having to go through the usual asylum procedure. In October 2025, the Federal Council announced that S protection status would remain in place until March 2027, barring significant improvement in Ukraine. As of the end of December 2025, Switzerland had granted protection status S to more than 125,000 people from Ukraine; of these, more than 72,000 were active.
As part of the EU+ Air Transfer programme, Switzerland has also agreed to take in 500 Ukrainian refugees who are currently in Moldova. Under this project, 311 people had been admitted to Switzerland by the end of December 2025. Furthermore, Switzerland has taken in civilians from Ukraine for treatment of acute physical illnesses. In addition, other particularly vulnerable groups including orphans and foster children have found refuge in Switzerland.
The reception and care of Ukrainians seeking protection and the high number of asylum seekers in Switzerland are placing a significant demand on the asylum system. The cantons and communes in particular are required to provide longer-term accommodation for asylum-seekers.
The ‘Support measures for persons with protection status S’ programme (Programme S), which was launched in 2022, provides assistance with integration in Switzerland, particularly in the labour market and in education. The aim is to enable active participation in social and economic life. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) provides financial support to the cantons for integration programmes. Since January 2024, those with protection status S have had access to all cantonal integration services, which adhere to the same standards as integration programmes for refugees and provisionally admitted persons. The Federal Council has taken various decisions to strengthen integration, particularly in the labour market. This includes new measures for labour market integration and amendments to relevant laws. For those living in Switzerland for three years or more, the target employment rate is 50%.
Information for refugees from Ukraine (SEM)
A job in Switzerland – Working, it's worth it. For everyone.In parallel to the work of the FDFA/SDC and SECO, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) supports projects being implemented by international organisations and NGOs in Ukraine's EU neighbouring countries as part of the second Swiss contribution's Rapid Response Fund. Sixteen projects have received support totalling about CHF 21 million since 2022. Eight projects are currently active. The projects cover integration, infrastructure and asylum processes.
The SEM is also assisting Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, a non-EU state, with CHF 1.6 million from 2023 to 2025 for a UNHCR project for the implementation of temporary protection status as well as the integration of Ukrainian asylum-seekers in the local labour market.
Information for refugees from Ukraine (SEM)
A job in Switzerland – Working, it's worth it. For everyone.As a complement to FDFA and EAER programmes in Ukraine, the SEM supports projects run by international organisations and NGOs in neighbouring EU countries via the Rapid Response Fund, which is part of Switzerland's second contribution. Since 2022, 16 projects totalling around CHF 21 million have received support. Five projects are currently under way. These projects concern integration, infrastructure and asylum procedures.
The SEM is also assisting Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, a non-EU state. From 2023–26, it will contribute a total of CHF 2.3 million to a project run by the UNHCR.
As of 31 December 2025, Switzerland had provided around CHF 6.08 billion to support Ukrainians affected by the war, both in Switzerland and abroad.
Approximately CHF 900 million of this came from Switzerland's three international cooperation (IC) agencies – the SDC, SECO and the PHRD – and went towards humanitarian aid as well as development and economic cooperation measures. This involves, for example, the delivery of relief goods, support for health systems, decentralisation, digitalisation, vocational education and training, SMEs, and the strengthening of the agricultural sector. Some projects and multilateral funds are set up transnationally. For example, around CHF 80 million of IC spending has benefited populations affected by the war in nearby countries, especially Moldova.
Of the aforementioned CHF 900 million, around CHF 43 million has been spent by the DDPS, mostly for material delivered to Ukraine. This includes fire engines, health equipment and winter clothing.
CHF 5.14 billion came from the SEM for receiving and supporting people with protection status S in Switzerland. This includes, for example, supporting cantons with social welfare benefits, administrative costs and various cantonal support programmes. A small portion of SEM's support also goes to projects for Ukrainian refugees in countries bordering Ukraine.
With a contribution of approximately CHF 40 million, other federal offices have also supported people impacted by the war, for example via initiatives to protect cultural property, support Ukrainian researchers in Switzerland and organise the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano.
Switzerland's activities before 2022
Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, Switzerland and Ukraine have maintained good diplomatic relations in a variety of areas. Switzerland can therefore rely on a close network of contacts and partners when supporting Ukraine.
Following Russia's annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of armed conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Switzerland decided in 2015 to significantly increase its commitment in Ukraine. The IC budget was almost doubled for the 2015-18 cooperation strategy and has since been further expanded. In addition, the SDC's and SECO's engagement was strengthened by the PHRD (then the Human Security Division) and Swiss Humanitarian Aid. In 2015, several convoys from Switzerland reached the areas in eastern Ukraine occupied by Russia, where they provided the population with chemicals for the treatment of drinking water and medicines. This made Switzerland the first third country to deliver aid on this scale to both sides of the line of contact. In total, from 2014 to 2021 Switzerland provided bilateral IC assistance in Ukraine worth CHF 250 million, of which CHF 41.5 million was allocated to humanitarian aid efforts.
Switzerland chaired the OSCE in 2014. In this capacity, Switzerland played a key role in international efforts to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine. Following the Russian annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine, the OSCE Permanent Council decided on 21 March 2014 to deploy a special civilian observation mission to Ukraine. From then on, this mission reported regularly on the security situation and other issues and also provided mediation support. Switzerland’s Alexander Hug served as deputy head of mission for several years (2014–18). In response to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the OSCE set up the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG). At high-level negotiations in Minsk, the TCG, together with the Normandy Four (the heads of state and government of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia), agreed on a basis for the further negotiation process. The special representative for Ukraine and the TCG, Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini, who was appointed by Switzerland in its capacity as OSCE chair, was on site at the time. In the context of the TCG negotiations, other Swiss diplomats also took on various key roles – such as Heidi Grau, who served as special envoy from 2020–21 and Toni Frisch, who worked as coordinator of the TCG Humanitarian Working Group (2015–21), as well as various other advisers.
Switzerland will once again assume the OSCE chair in 2026. In light of the war in Europe, Switzerland has made it a priority of its year as chair to work towards a just peace in Ukraine based on international law and the Helsinki principles. Switzerland will use its mediation experience to promote dialogue, trust and security.
Links
Documents
2025 Annual Report of the Federal Council Delegate for Ukraine
PDF708.34 kB25 November 2025
2025–28 country programme for Ukraine
PDF1.34 MB12 February 2025
Factsheet Swiss country programme Ukraine 2025–2028
PDF327.30 kB28 October 2025
Federal measures since 24 February 2022
PDF1.04 MB24 February 2022
Difference between Swiss ODA allocated to Ukraine and the Kiel tracker
(French)
PDF969.34 kB18 February 2025
Contact
General Secretariat GS-FDFA
Federal Palace West
3003 Bern