The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, said that Ukrainians are preparing for a winter of two or three years of power cuts due to Russian airstrikes.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine with drones and missiles This left millions of people across Ukraine without electricity, running water and heat during the winter.
How much damage has Russia done to Ukraine’s power system?
After facing many failures on the battlefield, the Russian army has focused its attacks on the Ukrainian power station. fuel storage and water station
Ukraine’s national energy company, Ukrenergo, said the damage to the electricity infrastructure was so great that it was unable to meet about 50 percent of its electricity demand.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that around 6 million people live without electricity.
Power plants were attacked across the country, from Kiev to Odessa in the south and Vinnitsia in the west.
Due to power cuts, many residents could not use the heating system. As the temperature has dropped below 0 degrees Celsius in many parts of Ukraine.
Electricity company Yasno said Ukrainians would likely face power cuts until March.
The European Union has provided money through the Ukraine Energy Aid Fund to buy equipment such as generators and cables to increase the amount of electricity available.
Three nuclear power stations were disconnected from the grid for two days due to airstrikes.
UN experts are also worried about that Bombardment around the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant which is the largest power plant in Europe It may cause a release of radioactive substances.
Several cannonballs fell near several nuclear reactors. which fell on the radioactive waste storage building at that power plant But it has not yet caused serious damage.
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of the bombing.
Why is Russia targeting the energy system?
Marina Miron, Defense Researcher at King’s College London University said the attack on the energy infrastructure was aimed at damaging the morale of the Ukrainian people.
“Russia thinks If a person is cold and desperate Maybe they are against their own government,” he said.
However, Ms Olena Zelenska told BBC News that Ukrainians are ready to live without electricity. if it leads to independence and having a chance to join the European Union
The Ukrainian government is urging people to evacuate some areas where facilities such as power plants have been badly damaged. Instead of trying to spend the winter there
In addition, the government recommends that residents of the Kherson and Mikolaiv regions of southwestern Ukraine Move to the central and western areas of the country.
How did the Russian attack damage the health service?
The WorldHealth Organization (WHO) said there have been 703 attacks or threats against health facilities in Ukraine since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
Hundreds of hospitals and nursing homes “It can no longer be fully operational. There is a shortage of fuel, water and electricity, not enough to meet basic needs,” said Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. He said this puts millions of people at risk.
WHO has called for the opening of “Health Routes” to provide aid to areas occupied by Russia such as Donbas. And there are many areas that the Ukrainian army is recapturing like the Kherson region.
Cairzon residents at the train station waiting for immigration
Are attacks on power plants and medical facilities a war crime?
under the Geneva Conventions Intentional attacks on civilians or infrastructure essential to their survival. it can be interpreted as a war crime
Dr Kluge called the attacks on medical facilities “a violation of international humanitarian law.” and the rules of war.”
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has already described Russian drone and missile attacks on power plants and other infrastructure in Ukraine as “truly acts of terror”.
“Targeting civilian infrastructure” is a war crime, he said.
