War in Ukraine: on the 1000th day of the conflict, the population faces the specter of a third freezing winter

A thousand days of war and a strategy that remains the same. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory on February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin's country has continued to attack opposing energy infrastructures. The objective? Weaken the population, by depriving it of electricity, and therefore of heating during periods when the temperature becomes negative, but also a strategy of fear, by letting Ukrainians anticipate a freezing winter. That of 2024/2025 will be no exception, for the third time in a row.

“Ukraine is preparing for its harshest winter”even anticipated the new Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, during a speech given to Emmanuel Macron in recent days. It must be said that the strikes are continuous. On Sunday, November 17, the Russians again attacked Ukraine's national energy network, attacking electricity generation and transmission facilities. Of the “emergency power cuts” were then carried out by DTEK, the Ukrainian energy operator, in the kyiv region and two in the east of the country.

“Tipping point”

New strikes which occur while the national network is considerably weakened. According to Matthias Schmale, United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, 65% of the country's energy capacities are now destroyed. “If they (the Russians) were to target the energy sector again, it could be a tipping point”he warned on October 15. According to him, such systematic strikes could lead to “new massive population movements, both within the country and outside”.

For Ukrainians, the situation is particularly difficult in city buildings, where it is practically impossible to supplement the central heating system. To help Ukraine get through the winter, 500 million dollars (or 470 million euros) in aid would be needed, according to the UN. Specific aid which has, to date, only been matched by half of the required amount.

kyiv, however, is urging its Western partners to help rebuild its electricity network, a project which requires significant investment. In the shorter term, Ukraine would like to receive more air defense equipment to counter Russian bombings on its network.

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Still, the cold is already here. Near the front, the fear of a harsh winter is on everyone's minds. Vadym Filachkin, the governor of the Donetsk region, estimates that more than 130 towns and villages in this industrial territory will not have electricity this winter. According to him, only three large cities in the region will have municipal heating: Kramatorsk, Sloviansk and Dobropillia, three important points for the logistics of the Ukrainian army. “We are all preparing for winter”assures AFP a resident close to the eastern front. “We've survived two years and we'll survive the third, don't worry.”