In brief
Alexander De Croo, head of the United Nations Development Programme, says Ukraine is bracing for its harshest winter since Russia's full‑scale invasion, citing relentless strikes on power and water systems. De Croo warns that if Russia cuts critical infrastructure, the country could face a humanitarian catastrophe, with heating and sanitation services collapsing. The UN is racing to repair damaged lines and build resilient, decentralized energy plants amid continuous air alarms from Russian attacks. While Ukraine continues to oppose these assaults, the UN underscores the urgent need for international support to safeguard civilians during the brutal winter ahead.
Alexander De Croo, former Belgian prime minister and head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), warned the BBC that Ukraine is facing its toughest winter since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022.
He said the country risks a “humanitarian catastrophe” if Russian attacks continue to cut off access to power and water before temperatures plummet.
De Croo accused Russia of systematically targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – including electricity transmission lines, petrol stations, shopping malls and business centres – and said there is “no justification” for such strikes.
In response, the UNDP is helping Ukraine rebuild parts of its power system damaged last winter and is building more sustainable, decentralised energy plants that are less vulnerable to attack.
He described the repair work as almost impossible, noting that workers operate under constant air alarms and at sites that are frequent targets, which forces them to halt work for safety reasons.
Despite the UN’s concerns, both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and continue to push the air attacks on each other’s territories.
