People warm up by a fire outside the main railway station in Lviv, Ukraine.
Dan Kitwood | Getty Images News | beautiful pictures
More than 10 million Ukrainians have left the country since the start of the war, but many who remain – especially in the south and east of the country – have been pushed to the limits of their resilience.
Daily life has become a test of survival for many, with basic necessities such as water, food and medicine becoming scarce. Russia has also continued to attack the country’s energy infrastructure; About 10 million people in Ukraine are currently without electricity due to Russian attacks on energy facilities in recent weeks.
As winter sets in — with daylight dwindling and temperatures plummeting to as low as -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit) — officials are warning of widespread heat and energy shortages.
Kherson residents collect water at a water intake point in the city that has had no electricity or water since the Russian troops withdrew on November 16, 2022 in Kherson, Ukraine.
Paula Bronstein | Getty Images News | beautiful pictures
Electricity has become particularly scarce, with distributed and scheduled (and recently unscheduled) energy use experiencing daily blackouts in many parts of the country.
And those blackouts can last for months, according to one energy company CEO, who warned Monday night that “there could be no light for a very long time.”
“I want everyone to understand: Ukrainians will most likely have to live in a state of shutdown until at least the end of March,” said Serhiy Kovalenko, CEO of Ukrainian electricity supplier Yasno. said on Facebook on Monday.
“There are also different projections of the development of this situation, and they are completely dependent on Russian attacks,” he said.
The best-case scenario is no new attacks on the power grid. There will still be power outages, but only for short periods of time, allowing energy workers to restore the grid. However, according to Kovalenko, in the worst case, the network will be “seriously damaged”.
“You would then have to trigger not only an hourly instability but also an emergency, possibly without light for a very long time,” he added.
Firefighters work to put out fires at energy infrastructures, damaged by a Russian missile attack, as Russia continues to attack Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine November 15, 2022.
State Emergency Service of Ukraine | via Reuters
He said Ukraine should prepare for different situations, especially the worst-case scenario, and advised people to stock up on warm clothes and blankets.
“Think about the options that can keep you waiting during a prolonged blackout. It’s better to do it now than to suffer and blame someone later. More importantly, all of it. we all know who is really responsible,” he said.
‘Life-threatening’
The World Health Organization has expressed concern about worsening living conditions in Ukraine, with the global health body forecasting that an additional three million people could try to leave the country this winter. in search of warmth and safety.
Dr Hans Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, warned on Monday that “this winter will be a time of survival” and “threatens the lives of millions in Ukraine.”
In a statement, Kluge said continued attacks on health and energy infrastructure mean hundreds of hospitals and healthcare facilities are no longer functioning properly and are running short of fuel, water and electricity to meet their needs. meet basic needs.
The WHO said it had verified 703 “health-targeted” attacks since the war began nine months ago, describing them as “a violation of international humanitarian law and the rules of war”. Russia has long denied targeting civilian infrastructure, despite cases and evidence to the contrary.
Ukrainian emergency workers and volunteers carry an injured pregnant woman from a maternity hospital damaged by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Evgeniy Maloletka | AP
“Continued attacks on health and energy infrastructure mean that hundreds of hospitals and healthcare facilities are no longer operating as they should – lacking fuel, water and electricity to meet their needs. Midwifery wards need incubators, blood banks need refrigerators, intensive care beds need ventilators; and they all need energy,” Kluge said.
The “devastating” energy crisis, as well as the worsening mental health emergency, limitations on humanitarian access and the risk of virus transmission will make this winter, Kluge added. become a formidable test for Ukraine, as well as a test of the world’s commitment to support the nation.
“Many people will be forced to switch to alternative heating methods such as burning coal or wood or using diesel generators or electric fireplaces. These methods carry health risks, including continued heating. Exposure to toxic substances is harmful to children, the elderly and people with respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, as well as burns and accidental injuries,” he said.
evacuation
Ukrainian officials in the regions hardest hit by power shortages are warning residents of a harsh winter ahead. Civilians in the newly liberated areas of Kherson, southern Ukraine, were told to move to safer areas over the winter, while the mayor of Kyiv was also reluctant to offer up the possibility of evacuation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in his speech on Monday evening that during the day, “energy workers had to apply not only steady shutdowns, but also sudden shutdowns.” This is because consumption is higher than the country can provide at this time.”
Residents talk to station staff while awaiting evacuation from Kherson on November 21, 2022 in Kherson, Ukraine. The recently cleared city of Kherson is experiencing severe water and electricity shortages.
Chris McGrath | Getty Images News | beautiful pictures
“Of course, energy workers, utility workers, rescuers and all those involved are doing their best. But the systemic damage to our energy sector is caused by The attack of Russian terrorists is so great that all our people and businesses should be very economical and widely consumed by the hour of the day,” he said.
As of Monday evening, Zelenskyy said the situation was especially difficult in the capital Kyiv and its vicinity, as well as in the regions of Vinnytsia, Sumy, Ternopil, Cherkasy, Odesa and a number of other cities and districts.
