Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Ukraine Braces for Harsh Winter as Russian Attacks Strain Economy
Ukraine is preparing for a very difficult winter.
Russian attacks are damaging power, transport, and other important infrastructure.
The attacks are also hurting businesses and making it harder for Ukraine to export goods.
Ukraine’s ports on the Black Sea are effectively blocked, putting billions of dollars in export income at risk.
The country’s government is collecting less money than expected.
At the same time, the war is costing more because of inflation, more troops, social payments, and ammunition use.
Ukraine spent more on defence than it raised through domestic revenue and borrowing during the first eight months of the year.
Officials say the government needs additional help to pay for defence and other essential services.
Ukraine is discussing more financial support with Western partners but has not found a quick solution.
Ukraine expects a difficult winter as Russian attacks damage critical infrastructure and disrupt economic activity.
Infrastructure and fixed-asset damage from Russian air strikes is estimated at nearly $10 billion this year.
About $40 billion in export revenue is at risk because attacks have effectively blocked Black Sea ports.
Domestic budget revenue fell $1.35 billion short of expectations during the first eight months of the year.
Ukraine spent about $42 billion on defence while domestic revenue and local borrowing generated $39 billion in the same period.
- Who
- Ukrainian officials, including Economy Minister Oleksandr Kravchenko and parliamentary budget committee head Roksolana Pidlasa, described the economic pressures facing Ukraine; Russian forces are blamed for the attacks.
- What
- Russian attacks are damaging Ukrainian infrastructure and export industries while rising war costs and falling domestic revenue create a budget crisis.
- When
- The assessment was reported on September 12; figures cover this year and the first eight months of the year.
- Where
- Ukraine, including Kyiv and the country’s southern regions and Black Sea ports.
- Why
- Attacks on infrastructure, logistics, industry, and ports are disrupting economic activity and exports while defence spending continues to rise.
Ukrainian Officials’ Assessment
Russian and Ukrainian Denials
Responsibility and civilian targeting
Ukrainian Officials’ Assessment
Ukrainian officials say intensified Russian attacks are destroying infrastructure, disrupting Kyiv, and damaging southern regions and export routes.
Russian and Ukrainian Denials
Russia and Ukraine both deny deliberately targeting civilians in air attacks; the article does not provide a separate Russian account of the reported economic damage.
- Infrastructure damage
- Nearly $10 billion in damage to infrastructure and fixed assets from Russian air strikes this year.
- Economic impact
- The broader economic costs of attacks and the effective port blockage were estimated at about 1.5 percentage points of GDP.
- Export revenue at risk
- About $40 billion because of the effective blockage of Black Sea ports.
- Domestic revenue shortfall
- $1.35 billion below expectations during the first eight months of the year.
- Defence spending
- About $42 billion in the first eight months, excluding in-kind military support.
- Domestic financing
- Domestic revenue and local borrowing generated $39 billion during the first eight months.
- Daily war cost
- About $190 million this year, compared with $140 million in 2024.