Russia has recently intensified attacks on Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure, severely disrupting gas production and damaging critical storage facilities in western Ukraine. A strike on thermal power stations on 10 October left half of Kyiv without power and many residents without access to water, highlighting the devastating impact of targeting essential services during winter.
The UK has strongly condemned these attacks, emphasizing that restoring Ukraine’s energy capacity is both challenging and costly, often taking months, and increasing the country’s reliance on gas imports as winter heating demand rises. These actions are considered morally indefensible and have drawn concern from international bodies, including the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, which noted that such strikes may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity due to their disregard for civilian harm. Reporting by ODIHR similarly indicates that Russia’s large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities violate the laws of war.
Russia claims that these sites are legitimate military targets, arguing that they support Ukraine’s military industrial complex. However, investigations by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine found that such attacks likely breach the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution required to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
This year alone, Russia has launched approximately 40,000 drones, quadrupling the number from 2024. In September, at least 214 civilians were killed and nearly 1,000 injured. In the largest coordinated assault on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure to date, Russia deployed 35 missiles and 60 drones in a single offensive, tragically killing a child. Each escalation has coincided with rounds of peace talks, demonstrating the persistent risk to civilian populations.
The UK stands firmly with Ukraine, urging continued international support for Ukraine’s air defences and energy resilience. The UK calls on Russia to comply with international humanitarian law, refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure, and withdraw from internationally recognized Ukrainian territory.
