Zelenskyy meets Ukrainian pilots training in Canada

The United Nations' top official has warned that Ukraine is bracing for its "toughest winter" since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Alexander De Croo, the head of the UN development agency, expressed concern over the risk of a "humanitarian catastrophe" if Russian attacks disrupt access to power and water. De Croo, the third most senior UN official, accused Russia of systematically targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which includes petrol stations, shopping malls, and business centers.

He emphasized that this targeting lacks justification and could result in a dire situation where people struggle to access heat, water, and sewage systems due to plummeting temperatures. Russia and Ukraine have intensified their aerial attacks in recent months, with both parties denying deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.

Recent attacks have targeted infrastructure, including energy facilities. Both countries deny targeting civilians. A recent Russian drone strike on a shopping mall in Pavlohrad killed five people and injured 67. Additionally, Russian drone strikes in Zaporizhzhia and Sumy resulted in two deaths and 28 injuries each. Russia also reported a Ukrainian drone attack on Sochi, causing 28 injuries and three deaths.

De Croo, a former Belgian prime minister, stated that Ukraine had started the winter with a weak foundation and that the UN is deeply worried about the potential consequences. The UN Development Programme is helping to rebuild Ukraine's energy system and establish more sustainable, decentralized energy plants to mitigate the risks.

However, completing this challenging and dangerous task remains nearly impossible due to the constant threat of attacks.