UN warns of new Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure

The UN warned Friday that new Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could have a disastrous effect as the war-ravaged country prepares to face winter. “If they (the Russians, editor’s note) were to targeting the energy sector again, this could be a tipping point,” warned Matthias Schmale, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine. According to him, such systematic strikes could lead to “new massive movements of population, both inside and outside the country.

As it approaches the thousandth day of war, Ukraine has already seen the displacement of 3.7 million people within its borders, and the flight abroad of 6.7 million refugees , according to UN figures. Forty percent of the Ukrainian population needs humanitarian aid, according to the same source.

But the country is now preparing to face the harshest winter, the Russian army having already destroyed a large part of its energy infrastructure, and continuing to do so. During the previous two winters, millions of Ukrainians suffered regular power cuts, including heating cuts in temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.

Mr Schmale, speaking to the press in Geneva, warned that the situation was worse this year, with 65% of Ukraine’s energy capacity now destroyed. He stressed that the situation was particularly difficult in city buildings, where it is practically impossible to supplement the central heating system.

He said he was in Geneva to call for more financing of specific aid of 500 million dollars (470 million euros) to help Ukraine get through the winter, which to date has only been provided by height of half.

The UN’s comprehensive humanitarian aid plan for Ukraine has so far helped more than seven million people, with funding of $1.8 billion (€1.7 billion) out of a planned total of three billion. The funding trend is “clearly downward” after nearly three years of war, he stressed.