2 weeks ago
Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter
Russia and Ukraine are in a big fight that has been going on for four years.
Russia is now attacking Ukraine's power plants and other energy places.
It does this because winter is coming and it wants people to be cold and without electricity.
Russia hopes this will make Ukraine's leader, President Zelenskyy, agree to what Russia wants.
Russia hit a big energy company called Naftogaz many times.
It also hit a mine owned by another company, and a man died.
The Red Cross says hurting these important services on purpose can be a war crime.
The United Nations says many civilians in Ukraine were killed in July.
Ukraine is also attacking energy places inside Russia.
These attacks make the fight even harder for everyone.
Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter to weaponise the cold.
Russia struck Ukraine's state-run oil and gas company Naftogaz 13 times in the past week and nearly 300 times since January.
Private Ukrainian mining and power company DTEK Group said Russia struck one of its mines, killing a 52-year-old man.
The Red Cross said deliberate attacks on essential services and civilian infrastructure can amount to war crimes.
The United Nations reported Russia killed 437 civilians in Ukraine in July, up 70 percent from the same month last year.
- Who
- Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, is attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure; Ukraine is led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- What
- Russia has ramped up strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter to weaponise the cold and pressure the Ukrainian government.
- Where
- Ukraine, with Ukrainian strikes also hitting targets inside Russia.
- When
- Ahead of winter; Naftogaz reported 13 strikes in the past week and nearly 300 since January; UN figures cover July.
- Why
- To deny civilians water, heating and electricity during winter and pressure President Zelenskyy to accept the Kremlin's maximalist demands.
Russia's winter strategy
Ukraine's counter-strikes
Attacks on energy infrastructure
Russia's winter strategy
Russia strikes Ukraine's energy infrastructure to weaponise winter, deny civilians water, heating and electricity, and pressure Zelenskyy to accept Kremlin demands.
Ukraine's counter-strikes
Ukraine strikes Russian oil and gas infrastructure, supply lines, warehouses and manufacturing units, taking refineries offline and forcing Russia to suspend energy exports.
Key facts
- Target
- Ukraine's energy infrastructure
- Naftogaz strikes (past week)
- 13
- Naftogaz strikes (since January)
- Nearly 300
- DTEK mine strike
- Killed a 52-year-old man
- UN civilian deaths in July
- 437, up 70% from July last year
- War crimes assessment
- Red Cross: deliberate attacks on essential services can amount to war crimes
- Context
- Ukraine has nearly run out of Patriot interceptors
Sources
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