The United Nations Development Programme’s head, former Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo, told the BBC that Ukraine is heading for the toughest winter since the 2022 invasion of its territory. He warned that a continued Russian campaign against power and water infrastructure could spark a humanitarian catastrophe.
De Croo accused Russia of a very systematic campaign targeting the country’s civilian power grid, petrol stations, and shopping malls. He described the damage as absolutely unjustifiable and emphasized that Ukraine has been starting from a very weak base going into the cold season.
In response, the UNDP has been mobilising repair crews to rebuild damaged substations and create resilient, decentralised energy plants that are less vulnerable to air‑attacks. The work has been described as almost impossible because workers operate amid constant air‑alarm threats and the risk of further strikes.
Russia’s use of fast, jet‑powered drones has increased the frequency and intensity of attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. In recent days, the country suffered strikes on the state gas pipeline in Pavlohrad, as well as on shopping malls in Zaporizhzhia and Sumy, which killed or wounded dozens of civilians.
Despite the ongoing war, both Russia and Ukraine continue to deny deliberately targeting civilian sites. The risk posed to the population includes possible loss of heating, water supply and sewage systems, especially when winter temperatures can plunge to –20 °C, a height that could accelerate human suffering.
With the UN’s senior officials urging for urgent reconstruction and humanitarian help, Ukraine’s winter stakes are high. The nation’s ability to keep its people warm and fed hinges on accelerating repairs, building greater energy resilience, and preventing further concentrated strikes.
