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Winter is approaching: Ukraine is fighting for survival in the energy crisis!
Ukrainian army prepares for upcoming winter and decisive battles against Russia as support dwindles.
Winter is approaching: Ukraine is fighting for survival in the energy crisis!
Ukraine is facing a bitter winter, while the war continues against Russia and the challenges increase.
The Ukrainian population faces a harsh winter that will further increase the hardships of the war in its third year. Russia has systematically attacked the country's energy infrastructure, deliberately destroying power plants and substations. In a country where temperatures regularly fall below freezing in winter, the strain on Ukraine's power grid will be enormous. Frontline cities such as Kharkiv, which already lost two of its power plants in March, will be particularly hard hit.
The Russian attacks have revealed a weak point in the Ukrainian infrastructure: the energy ride is simply too great to defend it effectively, especially in view of the limited air defense. Ukraine is increasingly dependent on atomic energy that currently covers 70 percent of its energy needs - a value that is one of the highest worldwide. While the nuclear power plants remain relatively untouched under Ukrainian control, the substation and switchgear that feed the energy into the network are vulnerable and difficult to repair.
The geopolitical situation and US aid
The upcoming US elections on November 5 cast a shadow over support for Ukraine. Despite a still positive attitude toward Ukraine, American support is declining. Amid domestic political challenges and the diversion of military resources to Israel, aid to Ukraine could fall to lower levels, just when the country urgently needs support to break the stalemate against Russia.
The EU has repeatedly pledged its support for Ukraine, but many member states do not speak with one voice. Germany, the second largest donor after the United States, plans to halve military aid to Ukraine by next year. While the majority of Ukrainians hope for a complete victory, there are voices in Europe calling for military support to achieve better conditions at the negotiating table.
The Ukrainian armed forces are under pressure, while Russia continues its offensive and targets strategic cities like Pokrovsk. The losses on both sides are enormous, and Ukraine desperately tries to intensify its recruitment efforts in order to withstand Russian pressure. President Selenskyj faces the challenge of planning the offensive, while support in the country remains overwhelming for a military victory.