The United Nations has said it lacks the funds needed to help Ukraine get through the winter as Russian bombing has destroyed half of its power grid, the US financial weekly Barron's reports.
"The reality is that the funding situation for organisations like ours is too low at this time of year - we are 47 per cent funded," Karolina Lindholm Billing, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner in Ukraine, told AFP.
Ukraine currently has about 3.6 million internally displaced people, but Russian army advances in eastern Donetsk Region and intensified airstrikes are forcing more people to flee their homes.
"Almost 99,000 people have been evacuated or fled from frontline villages in Donetsk Region since 1 August," said Lindholm Billing.
UNHCR is assisting local Ukrainian organisations to accommodate displaced people and providing assistance to the most vulnerable to help them survive the winter.
Some 650,000 people are receiving assistance such as warm clothing or kits to better insulate their homes.
"If we can get the funds, I am convinced that we can help them," said Lindholm Billing.
European officials in Ukraine's neighbouring countries fear that if there is no immediate help to restore electricity, a new wave of refugees could pour into the EU this winter.
Since the summer, UNHCR has seen an increase in the number of people citing power cuts as the main reason for leaving the country.
According to Lindholm Billing, a sharp increase in Russian strikes and a harsh winter could cause a big jump in the number of refugees.
"So the main message is that it is very important for Ukraine to get support to restore the damaged energy infrastructure and to create decentralised energy production capacities," she added.