Ukraine says Russia plans new attacks on energy infrastructure

Russia is preparing new series of aerial strikes on Ukraine’s energy sector, according to available evidence, Ukraine’s deputy permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Rostyslav Palahusynets, said during a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Forum for Security Cooperation.

“We have sufficient information about preparations for further Russian attacks on our energy sector and infrastructure, including facilities and networks that serve our nuclear power plants,” Palahusynets told Ukrinform.

The diplomat said that these attacks, carried out in the middle of winter, have a clear humanitarian dimension and are intended to maximize civilian suffering.

“Ukraine is acting as constructively as possible in diplomacy, while Russia focuses solely on strikes and inflicting harm on people,” he said.

Palahusynets said that during the current heating season, Russia has carried out 256 air attacks on Ukraine’s energy and critical infrastructure, with strikes occurring almost daily since mid-January.

“Russia is deliberately trying to create living conditions designed to destroy the Ukrainian people physically — which clearly meets the definition in Article II (c) of the Genocide Convention.”

Ukraine called on OSCE participating states to increase support, including by accelerating the delivery of air defense systems and strengthening political and diplomatic pressure on Russia.