Alexander De Croo, the head of the United Nations Development Programme and former Belgian prime minister, told the BBC that Ukraine is heading into its most severe winter since Russia’s full‑scale invasion began in 2022. He warned that continued Russian strikes on power lines and water facilities could push the country towards a humanitarian disaster.
De Croo accused Russia of a "very systematic" campaign against civilian and energy targets, describing the situation as a "race against the clock" to restore the electricity grid before sub‑zero temperatures set in. He noted that winter temperatures in parts of Ukraine can fall to as low as minus‑20 °C, heightening the risk of heating and water shortages.
Recent attacks have underscored the danger. A Russian drone strike on a shopping centre in Pavlohrad killed five people and injured 67, while earlier strikes on malls in Zaporizhzhia and Sumy resulted in two deaths and dozens of injuries. Russian drones have also hit a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova, killing two, and Russia reported a Ukrainian seaborne drone attack on Sochi that wounded 28 and caused three fatalities.
In response, the UN Development Programme is helping to rebuild damaged sections of Ukraine’s power network and is promoting the installation of more sustainable, decentralised energy plants that are less vulnerable to air raids. De Croo described the reconstruction effort as "almost an impossible task" given the constant threat of air alarms and the danger of working on targeted sites.
The UN’s warning comes as both sides continue to deny deliberately targeting civilians, even as the conflict’s intensity escalates with faster, jet‑powered drones that outpace Ukraine’s air defences. International observers say the coming months will be crucial in determining whether Ukraine can maintain essential services for its population through the harsh winter.
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Category: International
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