In brief
The UN’s top development official says Ukraine faces its toughest winter since the 2022 invasion, with the risk of power and water shortages turning into a humanitarian disaster. Alexander De Croo accused Russia of systematically targeting energy and civilian infrastructure, sparking a race to repair the crippled grid. While Russia flies jet‑powered drones against Ukraine, UN aid is pushing for swift infrastructure restoration. The outcome will determine whether families can heat their homes and access clean water when temperatures drop to ‑20°C.
The UN’s head of development, former Belgian prime‑minister Alexander De Croo, told the BBC that Ukraine’s upcoming winter could be the toughest ever since Russia’s full‑scale invasion began in 2022. He warned that if power grids are hit again, it could spark a humanitarian catastrophe as households struggle to heat homes and access clean water.
Russia has intensified aerial attacks using jet‑powered drones, which can evade Ukrainian air defense, repeatedly targeting energy plants, warehouses, petrol stations and shopping malls. In response, the UN Development Programme is racing to rebuild damaged substations and to set up more resilient, decentralized power plants that are less vulnerable to strikes.
De Croo explained that winter temperatures in Ukraine can plunge to ‑20°C, and without reliable electricity the situation could become “quite some human suffering.” The UN is working closely with local workers, who must repair sites under air‑alarm warnings, highlighting the dangerous “race against the clock.”
For Ukrainians, the stakes are high: a failed power system means losing heating, water treatment and sanitation—critical needs that could tip communities into crisis. The UN’s call for swift action aims to keep the grid alive and families safe amid looming cold snaps.
