At the Trypilska power plant situated just outside of Kyiv, multiple groups of workers are tirelessly working to mend the extensive damage caused by Russian missile attacks earlier this year. The plant was previously a major electricity provider for Kyiv and its neighbouring areas, before it was rendered ineffective due to the Russian offensive in April.
The intense fires that ravaged the plant after the missile hit, left the interior of the building in a burnt-out state. The plant, which will likely take several years to fully recover, was targeted as a part of an intended Russian strategy to cut off Ukraine’s electricity supply as the fierce conflict moves towards its third winter.
A series of bombings on numerous Ukrainian cities and crucial energy infrastructure have been intended to further increase pressure on the citizens, with daily life now frequently punctuated by the wailing of air-raid alarms and mobile alerts of inbound missiles and drones.
Inhabitants of Kyiv usually have to survive with only a few hours of daily electricity supply. This week, citizens in the sunshine-filled streets of the capital continued with their everyday routines even though colder weather is soon expected.
Moreover, near the front lines in Ukraine’s eastern areas, the increasing frequency and intensity of bombings in populated cities like Kharkiv are significantly worrying human welfare agencies, particularly with the approaching winter months.
John Wain, the coordinator of shelter provision for the UN’s Refugee Agency in Ukraine, said, “We are immensely concerned about the imminent winter.” Wain emphasised the need for urgent fundraising to help Ukrainians survive the harsh winter, in which temperatures could potentially drop to -20 degrees in some areas.
Wain stated that the targeted attacks on vital facilities have caused the energy supply in Ukraine to become incredibly precarious this year. He added that despite Ukrainians’ resiliency during winter, the damage to their infrastructure would result in reduced central heating, something they would normally rely on during this period. Wain highlighted that as the end of September approaches, the nation would find itself increasingly facing the challenges of winter.
Plans are in progress by aid organisations to provide financial assistance to rural families to buy firewood for heating as winter approaches. However, the primary concern remains for the multitudes of people residing in high-rise buildings, where using firewood for heating isn’t feasible. This issue, according to Wain, is a considerable challenge.
Essential infrastructures such as the Trypilska power plant require air defences capable of intercepting Russian missiles and drones for adequate safeguarding, a requirement Ukraine has repeatedly grumbled about to its western allies for lack of. There have been multiple requests from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the United States, the UK, and other European countries for Patriot air defence system donations. Moreover, Zelenskiy has advocated for the granting of permission to employ long-range missiles provided by the US and others to target airfields and other military locations deep within Russian grounds.
Amanda Paul, an esteemed analyst at the European Policy Centre, describes the current wartime situation in Ukraine as critically unstable. She points out that Ukraine’s allies continue to make grand promises that are yet to be fulfilled due to political fatigue. Paul further suggests that the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the US could likely lead Ukraine into desperation, signifying a potential significant reduction or complete withdrawal of US support. She further posits that Europe would not effectively compensate in a situation where the US withdraws military aid to Ukraine during a subsequential Trump presidency.
The recent unexpected progress of Ukrainian forces into Russia to seize the western city of Kursk has been a morale-booster for the increasingly fatigued troops. However, Russia continues to forge ahead in eastern Ukraine towards Pokrovsk, deemed a strategic location in the Donbas region. Ukrainian officials persistently urge their Western supporters to do more as Russia incessantly bombards cities using drones and missiles. Recently, a mother and her three young daughters were among the casualties from Russian bombings in Lviv, a city near the Polish border in western Ukraine. The day before, over 50 people were reported dead and about 300 wounded in Poltava, a city in central Ukraine from strike actions.
Borodyanka, a small town located near Kyiv, serves as a bleak testament to the dangers that the civilian populace face on a daily basis. In the wake of Russia’s February 2022 invasion, it bore the brunt of heavy bombardment as Russian troops pressed their attack on the capital. Ruslan Kravchenko, an official in the Kyiv regional administration, revealed that out of approximately 30,000 buildings razed by the invading army, only around 17,000 residential properties have been restored so far.
Mykola and Nataliia Anisimov, a couple from Hostomel – a nearby town, were among the countless Ukrainian refugees who sought safety over the Polish border as Russian tanks and soldiers swarmed into Ukraine. Upon their eventual return after Ukrainian forces had successfully fended off the offense on Kyiv, the couple found their home considerably damaged by intense artillery fire.
Their dwelling, where they had resided for several years, now stands as a skeleton of its former self, with naked brick walls, a steel staircase, and mounds of rubble and debris. Shrapnel from the initial fighting has riddled the iron fences along their road with holes. “This turned into the frontline and that’s when the major assaults began,” Natalia Anisimov stated. Despite their struggle, a helping hand from Irish Aid has allowed them to acquire a prefab modular residence, constructed right next to their ruined one.
In territories initially held by Russia but subsequently reclaimed by Ukraine, life-threatening traps set by the retreating forces present dangers to civilians. David McMahon, spearheading a UN-led initiative to educate Ukrainian officials on mine clearance, stated, “As they retreated, they booby-trapped residences and other edifices.” Every building poses potential threats, demanding careful inspection. McMahon memorably mentions one building that took over two months to secure, yielding more than 20 dangerous devices. The immense stretch of agricultural landscape could also be concealing minefields – the task of clearing this extensive mine belt promises to be a long and gruelling undertaking.