856 power generators, 420 power stations, hundreds of heating devices and more than PLN 12 million in support — these figures summarise the “Warmth from Poland for Kyiv” campaign, organised during the winter of 2026 by a coalition of civil society organisations, media outlets, entrepreneurs and institutional partners. One of the organisers of the initiative was the Open Dialogue Foundation.
The campaign became one of the largest citizen-led humanitarian initiatives carried out in Poland in support of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
A Response to the Dramatic Situation in Ukraine
The fundraiser was launched on 16 January 2026 in response to the dramatic situation faced by residents of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which were left without electricity and heating during an exceptionally harsh winter following further Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
The idea for the campaign originated from a simple appeal by Zbigniew Jankowski: “I want to buy one generator.” Very quickly, however, the initiative evolved into a broad solidarity movement.
The organisers of the fundraiser were:
- Natalia Panchenko from the Stand with Ukraine Foundation,
- Jerzy Wójcik and Joanna Mosiej-Sitek from Sestry.eu,
- Bartosz Kramek from the Open Dialogue Foundation,
- Zbigniew Jankowski from Maurent PR agency.
The original goal was to raise PLN 400,000 to purchase 100 generators for Kyiv. However, the scale of public mobilisation far exceeded the organisers’ expectations.
More Than 77,000 Donors and Over PLN 12 Million in Support
In just a few weeks, more than PLN 12,144,941.84 was raised. The campaign engaged 77,188 individuals as well as dozens of companies, foundations, local governments and civil society organisations from Poland and other European countries.
Major partners and donors included:
- Kulczyk Foundation,
- PKO Bank Polski Foundation,
- Polenergia,
- Donateo Foundation,
- McDonald’s Polska,
- InPost,
- Polish Business Roundtable Foundation,
- Strabag,
- Euvic,
- Government Strategic Reserves Agency,
- the cities of Warsaw and Kraków,
- partners from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania and Germany.
The initiative was also supported by the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland, UN Global Compact Network Poland, the Polish Red Cross, as well as numerous business communities and civic organisations.
Hundreds of Generators and Thousands of Devices for Ukraine
Thanks to the funds collected, the following equipment was delivered to Ukraine:
- 856 power generators with a total capacity exceeding 10.1 MW,
- 420 power stations,
- 918 gas cookers,
- 100 thermal blankets,
- 3,087 pieces of thermal clothing,
- nearly 4 kilometres of cables for connecting large generators.
The aid was delivered to Ukraine through 18 humanitarian transports organised jointly with logistics partners:
- InPost,
- Global Motion,
- Raben Group,
- Poczta Polska,
- Cordis Logistics,
- DB Schenker.
The strategic supplier of generators was the Polish company FOGO.
Support for Hospitals, Schools and Critical Infrastructure
The equipment was delivered to:
- 94 hospitals and medical facilities,
- 110 kindergartens, schools and universities,
- 59 local government institutions and social services,
- non-governmental organisations,
- volunteers operating in Ukraine,
- critical infrastructure facilities.
The generators and power stations enabled heating, meal preparation, the continued operation of humanitarian aid centres, and ensured basic safety for residents of regions regularly targeted by Russian missiles and drones.
Part of the funds was allocated to the purchase of mobile transformer substations for frontline regions in south-eastern Ukraine, where Russian shelling regularly destroys energy infrastructure.
The support includes, among others, orders for local governments in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Poltava, Dnipro and Kherson. The aim of the project is not only to respond to immediate crises, but also to rebuild energy capacity and strengthen the resilience of local communities.
Solidarity Stronger Than Propaganda
The “Warmth from Poland for Kyiv” campaign concluded on 24 February 2026, the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It carried enormous social and symbolic significance. The organisers emphasise that the initiative not only provided real humanitarian assistance, but also helped overcome social apathy and counter Russian disinformation regarding the alleged resale of equipment delivered to Ukraine.
The fundraiser became an example of effective cooperation between civil society organisations, businesses, media and public institutions. It also demonstrated that despite growing war fatigue, solidarity between civil society and Ukraine remains strong and continues to translate into concrete action.
The implementation of the project would not have been possible without the involvement of hundreds of volunteers, logistics partners, drivers, coordinators and organisations operating on both sides of the border.
We extend our special thanks to all individuals and institutions who supported the organisation of transports, customs clearance, aid distribution and communication efforts related to the campaign.
We thank all donors – private individuals, companies and organisations – for their trust and solidarity with Ukraine.
We encourage everyone to read the full report summarising our campaign:
