UN warns Ukraine may face toughest winter since Russia's invasion

A senior United Nations official told the BBC that the coming winter has created a “race against the clock” to guarantee reliable power and water supplies for millions of people living in crisis‑affected areas. The official, who heads the UN’s humanitarian coordination in the region, warned that damaged infrastructure, soaring energy costs and dwindling fuel stocks are already limiting access to electricity and safe drinking water, leaving vulnerable households exposed to extreme cold and heightened health risks. Humanitarian agencies are scrambling to repair broken grids, deploy mobile water treatment units and secure emergency fuel shipments, but they face a severe funding shortfall that threatens to curtail essential services before the season peaks.

The UN official emphasized that without an immediate boost in international aid and swift logistical support, many communities could experience prolonged outages, increased disease transmission and heightened mortality during the cold months. Donor governments and private partners have been urged to accelerate pledges and streamline delivery mechanisms to prevent a humanitarian disaster. The agency plans to prioritize the most at‑risk populations, focusing on shelter, heating, and water sanitation, while continuing to monitor the situation closely as winter approaches.