UN warns of Ukraine's hardest winter since full-scale war began
Photo: according to the UN, there is a risk of catastrophe (Getty Images)
UN Spokesperson Alexander De Croo stated that Ukraine is facing its most difficult winter since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He warned that there is a risk of a "humanitarian catastrophe" if Russian strikes cut people off from electricity and water, according to the BBC.
What the UN representative said
De Croo, the third-highest-ranking official at the UN, heading the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), accused Russia of systematic strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure while in Ukraine. According to him, a race against time is currently underway to repair the power grid before the cold sets in.
"This winter is going to be the toughest one since the war," De Croo told the BBC. He added that Ukraine is entering the winter from a very weak base, and the UN is very, very concerned about what this winter could bring.
Why the situation is critical
According to De Croo, Russia is conducting very systematic strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure - gas stations, shopping malls, business centers, and especially energy facilities and power lines. In his view, there is no justification for this.
The worst-case scenario is when people cannot heat their homes, and water supply and sewage systems simply stop working. In winter, temperatures in Ukraine can drop to -20°C.
"With the temperatures that you would get here that would lead to circumstances which would be really close to humanitarian catastrophe," the UN representative warned.
Escalation of air attacks from both sides
In recent months, Russia and Ukraine have intensified air strikes against each other. Russia has begun using faster jet drones that are harder to intercept; they are massively attacking Ukraine, including Kyiv, hitting businesses, warehouses, factories, gas stations, and energy facilities.
Ukraine, in turn, continues to strike deep into Russian territory - primarily targeting gas, oil, and distribution infrastructure. Both sides deny intentionally targeting civilians.
Deadly attacks resumed after US President Donald Trump sent special envoys for negotiations to Putin in Moscow and Zelenskyy in Kyiv last weekend.
Victims of recent strikes
On Thursday, a daytime Russian drone strike on a shopping mall in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region, killed five people and injured 67 others. Earlier that week, Russian aviation attacked two more shopping malls in Zaporizhzhia and Sumy, where two people were killed and 28 others injured.
Russia reported an attack by a Ukrainian naval drone on the resort city of Sochi overnight on Wednesday - 28 people were injured, and three others died as a result of other Ukrainian strikes.
Earlier this week, two people were also killed when Russian drones hit a checkpoint between Ukraine and Moldova - a country increasingly drawn into the conflict.
Work on restoring the energy system
As part of Ukraine’s preparation for winter, the UN Development Programme is helping to rebuild parts of the energy system damaged last winter and is deploying more resilient and decentralized power plants that are less vulnerable to strikes.
According to De Croo, performing this dangerous work is an almost impossible task.
"They are reconstructing these sites under constant, constant air alarms. And they know that they are working at a site which is a target," he explained. "So you try to reconstruct, but part of your day you can't work because it's just too dangerous."
Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi has already stated that the winter will be difficult, but the country is better prepared than last year - while acknowledging that it will not be possible to protect all energy facilities from strikes.
Last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the war with Russia would most likely continue this winter as well - he called on partners to help Ukraine prepare for future challenges.
And in late August, Zelenskyy implemented resilience plans for Ukrainian regions - a set of measures designed to help survive the heating season amid Russian aggression.
