Ukraine faces its toughest winter since Russia’s 2022 invasion
Alexander De Croo, head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), warned on BBC that Ukraine’s energy and water systems are at risk of collapse as Russian forces target civilian infrastructure.
"We are in a race against the clock," De Croo said, citing attacks on power transmission lines, petrol stations, shopping malls and other non‑military targets. “If the power supplies and critical infrastructure are severely damaged, we could see a scenario close to a humanitarian catastrophe,” he added. The UN’s senior official noted that winter temperatures in Ukraine can drop to –20 °C, a situation that would make heating and sanitation vital services impossible without electricity.
In response, the UNDP is accelerating the repair of damaged substations and is deploying more sustainable, decentralised energy plants that are less vulnerable to attack. Workers have been rebuilding key sites under constant air‑alarm warnings, often being forced to pause work due to unsafe conditions.
The statement follows a series of intensified aerial strikes, including the use of jet‑powered drones. Both sides deny targeting civilian infrastructure, but damage reports—including strikes on shopping malls in Pavlohrad, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy—show the civilian toll is rising.
De Croo called Russia’s targeting “very systematic” and urged the international community to support Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts to avert a mass humanitarian emergency. The UN remains “very, very worried” about the upcoming winter and its potential impact on civilian life.
