UKRAINE, Sep 19 — Ukrainians may be left without heating and water in winter due to electricity shortages caused by Russian attacks, reported the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine in a report released on September 19.

Between March 22 and August 31, 2024, Russia carried out nine large-scale waves of attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, damaging or destroying electricity generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. This will likely lead to even greater heating and water shortages this winter.

The UN reported that in winter, due to low temperatures, the need for electricity will increase, and the impact of Russian strikes will be exacerbated. The UN added that daily power outages during the cold months will leave civilians without the electricity they need to heat their homes, run water pumps, and provide children with online learning and heating.

The UN said that it will take years to restore infrastructure and eliminate the consequences of this destruction, and it will also require significant resources from the state and the private sector.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko reported that the Russians had destroyed about nine gigawatts of generation, almost half of all electricity generated in Ukraine.

On August 28, the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration reported that the UNHCR will help residents of the border areas of the Kharkiv region prepare for the heating season. UNHCR’s help is most focused on residents of the Kharkiv region living within a six-mile zone from the border. 

Read more