Recent Attacks in Ukraine Exacerbate Winter Heating Crisis

Devastating Attacks in Ukraine

Recent attacks in Ukraine have led to loss of life, destruction of essential infrastructure, and disruptions in heating and energy supplies for millions, according to a UN humanitarian report, as temperatures drop below freezing.

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of December 26, nationwide attacks have caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, leaving parts of the country without electricity, heating, and water. Nearly 100 civilians have been reported as casualties during this period, with the most severe consequences observed in the city of Kyiv, where a significant attack on December 27 resulted in injuries and fatalities.

Energy facilities, residential buildings, kindergartens, university dormitories, civilian vehicles, and other properties have been affected. An energy company reported that more than one million homes in and around Kyiv were left without electricity. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of residents in the capital found themselves without heat in the midst of winter.

The attacks have also impacted the regions of Chernihiv, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, and Odesa, causing further casualties and destroying not only homes but also educational institutions and other essential amenities. Although electricity has been restored for nearly 750,000 households in Kyiv, heating and electricity remain affected.

Humanitarian partners have set up heating tents where residents can seek shelter, receive food, charge their mobile phones, and access basic assistance. Meanwhile, the ongoing attacks continue to threaten essential services, with Ukraine accounting for approximately 42% of all attacks on the global health system in 2025, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This year, of the over 1,000 attacks on health facilities worldwide, 561 occurred in Ukraine, resulting in 19 deaths and 201 injuries.