This issue presents an overview of key humanitarian, legal and policy developments shaping the regional landscape in the first months of 2026. The analyses highlight the transition from emergency response to longer-term governance frameworks, while underlining the continued fragility of humanitarian systems across Central and Eastern Europe.
What’s inside this issue?
- Ukraine remains a central humanitarian concern, as the country enters the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The contributions document persistent large-scale humanitarian needs, continued displacement, and the long-term consequences of repeated attacks on energy infrastructure. Particular attention is given to the impact of international funding cuts on humanitarian capacity, including growing pressure on local and women-led organisations, rising protection risks for displaced women, and emerging forms of exploitation linked to the war, including forced recruitment and trafficking.
- Belarus continues to illustrate the intersection of repression and humanitarian vulnerability. Reports highlight ongoing politically motivated prosecutions, restrictions on civil society, and cases revealing precarious conditions faced by migrants and foreign nationals. Recent developments include international investigations into alleged crimes against humanity, as well as documented humanitarian concerns related to detention practices and access to basic services.
- Poland is undergoing significant institutional and policy adjustments related to migration governance. The issue analyses reforms aimed at integrating Ukrainian refugees into broader legal frameworks, the digitalisation of migration administration, and consultations on national integration strategies. At the same time, contributions point to emerging challenges, including labour exploitation of migrants, disinformation targeting migrant communities, and continuing humanitarian concerns at the Poland–Belarus border.
Across all three country contexts, this issue highlights the growing importance of coordinated responses to complex and interconnected challenges, including shrinking humanitarian space, digital threats, and structural funding gaps. Alongside country updates, the newsletter also presents recent academic contributions and policy-relevant analyses, reaffirming the role of research and evidence-based dialogue in supporting more sustainable and inclusive humanitarian governance in Central and Eastern Europe.
