Nearly all Ukraine heating plants destroyed by Russian attacks, Zelenskyy says

Ukraine faces a dire energy situation as nearly all its heating power plants lie in ruins due to Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. The country is bracing for another difficult winter with significantly damaged infrastructure.

Zelenskyy described the situation during his first official visit to Serbia, a country with pro-Russian leanings. He met with Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić to discuss Ukraine's challenges. "We are left with hardly any intact heating power plants because of the Russian attacks," Zelenskyy told reporters in Belgrade. He asserted that Russian missiles are specifically aimed at making life unbearable for the Ukrainian population.

Last winter, temperatures in Ukrainian apartments plummeted to as low as 8-11 degrees Celsius due to attacks on the power grid. Residents resorted to using hot water bottles and layering clothing to stay warm. The Norwegian Refugee Council has previously warned that the situation is particularly critical for internally displaced people within Ukraine, who may lack the resources to endure another freezing winter without electricity and heating.

In 2025, an estimated 3.7 million Ukrainians were displaced within their own country. The current state of energy infrastructure raises serious concerns about their ability to cope with the coming cold season.

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We are left with hardly any intact heating power plants because of the Russian attacks. Russian missiles are targeted to make life unbearable for the Ukrainians.