In brief
The UN Development Programme’s head, Alexander De Croo, says Ukraine’s winter will be the harshest since the 2022 invasion, warning that a failure to restore power and water infrastructure could trigger a humanitarian crisis. Russian attacks have repeatedly targeted energy transmission lines, petrol stations and shopping malls, leaving the country vulnerable as temperatures plunge to –20 °C. The UN is pushing for decentralized, resilient power plants and fast repair of damaged substations, but crews often work under constant air‑alarm threats. With the war ongoing, civilians risk severe hardship if energy and water services collapse, according to De Croo.
Ukraine faces its toughest winter since Russia’s 2022 invasion, UN development agency chief Alexander De Croo told the BBC.
He warned that a failure to restore the power and water network before temperatures drop to –20 °C could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. Russian air‑attacks have repeatedly struck Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – transmission lines, petrol stations and shopping malls – leaving vital utilities at risk.
De Croo said the UN was accelerating repair work on damaged substations, but crews are forced to halt work and bring in new equipment under constant air‑alarm alerts, making progress extremely difficult.
The UN Development Programme is also building more resilient, decentralized energy plants that can better withstand attacks, reducing the chance that civilians lose heating, water or sewage services during the cold snap.
With the war ongoing, urgent repairs and protective measures are a race against time to protect civilians from severe damage and loss of life.
