Snow in Kyiv raises fears Russia will attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

The first snowfall of the year in Kyiv has heightened concerns that Russia may launch a fresh wave of attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, particularly during the harsh winter months.

Last October, Russia embarked on a relentless campaign of strikes targeting critical infrastructure, leaving millions without power, heating, or water for extended periods. While such attacks have been less frequent this year, many fear that Russia is merely biding its time until sub-zero temperatures arrive, allowing for maximum disruption and suffering.

"Russia has postponed these attacks due to the warm autumn, but they will certainly come. We are preparing," Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, affirmed in an interview.

Danilov recently returned from a clandestine visit to London, where he met with various security and military officials, including Sir Tim Barrow, the UK's National Security Advisor, and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff. While details of the discussions remain undisclosed, Danilov confirmed that strategies to safeguard Ukraine from winter infrastructure attacks were a central theme.

"Our friends, including those from Great Britain, are assisting us in addressing these extremely challenging issues," Danilov stated.

In an unexpected change of tone, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a virtual meeting of the G20 group of major economies, expressed his desire to find a solution to the conflict.

"Of course, we must consider how to put an end to this tragedy," Putin remarked. "Incidentally, Russia has never refused peace talks with Ukraine."

However, Russia's insistence on Ukraine's surrender as a precondition for negotiations casts doubt on Putin's claims of seeking peace. Moscow's forces continue to bombard Ukrainian cities daily with drones and missiles, in addition to the ongoing ground battles.

British defense intelligence, in its daily briefing on the war in Ukraine, raised concerns about Russia's stockpile of missiles.

"Russia has refrained from launching its premier air-launched cruise missiles from its heavy bomber fleet for nearly two months, likely allowing it to amass a substantial stockpile of these weapons," the report stated. "Russia is highly likely to utilize these missiles if it repeats last year's attempts to cripple Ukraine's critical national infrastructure," it added.

Approximately 40% of Ukraine's energy infrastructure was damaged between last October and January. Much of the country remained without power for weeks, and all households were urged to conserve electricity.