Failing to achieve its objectives on the battlefield, Russia is stepping up attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. In this way, Moscow is trying to use winter as a weapon against Ukraine’s civilian population.
This was stated by France’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jérôme Bonnafont, and the UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Sarah MacIntosh, during a UN Security Council meeting on 9 November, Ukrinform reports.
Bonnafont stressed that Russia is deliberately targeting power generation, heating and water supply facilities, seeking to provoke a humanitarian catastrophe in winter.
"What Russia cannot achieve through combat operations, it is trying to obtain by attacking women, children and the most vulnerable people," the French diplomat said.
He added that France, together with its European partners, will continue to support Ukraine’s right to self-defence and increase pressure on Russia. Bonnafont also stressed that Ukraine must receive reliable security guarantees, and that issues of European security cannot be decided without the participation of European states.
Sarah MacIntosh noted that since 11 October, when US President Donald Trump called for an energy ceasefire, Russia has launched more than 150 ballistic missiles at Ukraine, mostly at energy infrastructure facilities.
According to her, the UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that for more than four years Russia has pursued a state policy of attacking Ukraine’s energy sector, intensifying the strikes as temperatures fall. The Commission classified such strikes as war crimes.
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The British diplomat also quoted threats which, she said, Russia’s Ministry of Defence is directing at Ukrainians: "This winter we are telling you: you will freeze."
MacIntosh assured that the United Kingdom and its partners will support Ukraine throughout the winter and for as long as it takes.
She also said that last month Russia’s losses amounted to 54,000 troops, and that over the course of a year the Russian army has not gained any new territory.