According to YouGov polling released today by SOS Children’s Villages UK, the majority (87%)* of the British public say Ukraine is currently ‘unsafe’ for children.
Surprisingly, the polling also showed that 7% of 18–24-year-olds think Ukraine is ‘safe’ for children, alongside 9% of Reform UK voters.
We’ve released this research to highlight the need for support for children in Ukraine ahead of the third Christmas they may have to spend in a war zone. And amid the stark fact that more than 2million children currently require humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.
Since the war began, SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine has supported 544,999 children and families affected by the outbreak of war (337,114 children).
In the first 10 months of 2025, the team’s work in Ukraine reached 112,343 people (63,390 children). SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine helps children across the country in a variety of ways, from providing support to children in areas close to the front lines, to foster care, education, mental health assistance and humanitarian aid.
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, more than 700 children have been killed and a further 2,000 have been wounded. Many requiring long-term rehabilitation for their injuries.
Liliia’s story
Three years ago, four-year old Liliia** was preparing to evacuate with her family when a missile strike nearly killed her and her family. She was rushed to hospital where doctors were able to save her life. Unfortunately, Liliia was no longer able to enjoy the childhood she once had.
Today, with the support of SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine, Liliia, now aged seven, is learning to walk again. She plays, draws pictures, and dreams of becoming a racing champion.
One in three injured children in Ukraine receive support from SOS Children’s Villages
Serhii Lukashov, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine, said, “One in every three injured children in Ukraine receive complex support in treatment and rehabilitation from SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine. Their pain is obvious and intense, and we prioritise them in our work. But there are hundreds of thousands of children whose suffering is invisible and forgotten. Those who were emotionally shaken by loss of their close ones; those who survived the fear of air bombings; those who spend their childhood in basements, being deprived of possibility to play, to travel and simply to attend school, for almost four years.
“We in SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine are trying to reach these children via our social centres and mobile teams and bring them our help. We are trying to support and encourage them and their parents, for we believe in the healing power of family love. In a caring family, a child can survive this brutal war and save their inner joy, curiosity and creativity. This will be much needed after the war, when these children will be rebuilding and reviving Ukraine as part of the European community”.
Only a quarter of school-aged children feel optimistic about the future
Meanwhile, according to the same YouGov data, among parents of school-aged children in the UK (aged 4-18), only around a quarter (28%) say their children are optimistic about the future.
Alison Wallace, CEO of SOS Children’s Villages UK, said, “Since war broke out, no area of Ukraine has been safe for children to grow up in, which is something that the British public clearly recognise.
“Children, like seven-year-old Liliia, who, with our help, is learning to walk again after a missile shattered her childhood, deserve a future to be hopeful about. They deserve our full support.
“The fact that, so close to Christmas, the majority of British children are not optimistic about the future shows us how much work there is to be done as adults to create a world where the majority of our children feel hopeful about growing up.
“The best way to do this is to create a world where we lead by example. By standing with the most vulnerable children, we can help inspire a generation to feel optimistic about the future.
“We remain dedicated to the work that strengthens young lives and builds more hopeful futures in Ukraine.”
This Christmas, if you’d like to help more children like Lilia, you can find out how here.
