The United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, has condemned the latest large-scale attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. These strikes have resulted in widespread power and heating outages across major cities, including Kyiv and Odesa. Türk described the attacks as “cruel” and highlighted the urgent need for them to cease, emphasizing that “civilians are bearing the brunt of these attacks.”
In his statement, Türk underscored that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes a clear violation of the rules of warfare. He warned that ongoing strikes on essential infrastructure could exacerbate human suffering, stating, “Hundreds of thousands of families are now without heating, and several areas, including a significant part of Kyiv, are also without water.”
Matthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, echoed Türk’s concerns. He noted the severe impact of the attacks on daily life, saying, “Parents cannot prepare hot meals for their children, and many older people have been left isolated in cold homes yet again.” Schmale called for an immediate end to the strikes, which he described as hideous violations of international humanitarian law.
Widespread Impact of Energy Infrastructure Strikes
According to Vitaly Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, the latest strikes have left at least 5,635 multi-storey residential buildings without heating. This incident is part of a broader pattern; since October 2022, Russian armed forces have conducted systematic attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure across 20 unique regions.
A report released by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine revealed that between March 22 and August 21, 2024, Russian forces launched nine waves of coordinated attacks targeting Ukraine’s electric power system. This campaign has significantly diminished the country’s power generation capacity. By June 2024, 73 percent of Ukraine’s thermal power plants and 20 hydroelectric generation units were rendered inoperative due to severe damage.
The consequences of these strikes extend beyond electricity. The UN report indicated that the reduced power generation impacted water distribution, sewage and sanitation systems, heating, public health, education, and the overall economy. The humanitarian crisis is particularly dire during the winter months, when the demand for electricity and heating surges.
Legal Implications and International Response
The recent attacks may constitute violations of International Humanitarian Law and could be classified as war crimes under the Geneva Conventions, to which both Russia and Ukraine are parties. Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits “extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly.”
While experts debate the legality of targeting energy infrastructure, the International Committee of the Red Cross has indicated that power plants used primarily for military purposes may be legitimate military targets. The Russian ambassador has previously defended the strikes as necessary to weaken the military potential of Ukraine.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with calls for accountability and an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure growing louder. The humanitarian impact of these strikes remains a pressing concern as winter approaches, with millions of Ukrainians facing increased hardships.
