Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba has warned that the country is facing “the worst winter” in its history as it prepares for extensive blackouts caused by Russian missile strikes. Following the attacks on the Crimean Bridge, Moscow has intensified its focus on Ukrainian power facilities, increasing the likelihood of significant disruptions to the energy supply.
Speaking to Die Welt, Kuleba expressed the grim reality facing Ukrainians, sharing that he had personally purchased candles and that his father had secured a truckload of firewood in anticipation of energy shortages. The minister emphasized Ukraine’s determination to safeguard its power plants and conveyed a preference for receiving more air defense systems over long-range Taurus missiles from Germany, indicating the country’s prioritization of immediate defensive needs.
Germany’s stance has been cautious; Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock have voiced concerns about the provision of long-range weaponry to Kiev, emphasizing the need for any military equipment delivered to be operable and effective in the field.
The sentiments about a challenging winter are echoed by Aleksey Danilov, head of Ukraine’s National Security Council, who mentioned ongoing discussions among Ukrainian officials about the impending crisis. Danilov also pointed out the importance of local community preparation to provide electricity during potential outages.
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galuschenko has been upfront about the vulnerabilities of the nation’s energy grid, encouraging citizens to procure generators and make other contingency plans. He disclosed that prior attacks had already severely impacted approximately half of all power-generating facilities in the country, some suffering irreparable damage.
Russia’s strategic assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure began in earnest in October 2022, retaliating for what it called a “terrorist attack” on the Crimean Bridge. Ukrainian officials, having initially denied involvement in the bridge incident, changed course this summer when Vasily Malyuk, the head of Ukraine’s Security Service, took responsibility for the attack.
As the winter looms, the Ukrainian government and citizens brace themselves for what may come, taking pragmatic steps to ensure they can withstand the challenging conditions forecasted by their leaders.