CNN: Ukraine's coming winter faces a humanitarian crisis worse than last year's

Experts' forecast

Ukraine may face a humanitarian crisis this coming winter that will be worse than last year's and will begin significantly earlier. This is the conclusion reached by experts interviewed by CNN: damage to energy infrastructure, prolonged power outages, and growing economic problems pose a serious threat to the country's population.

Analysts' assessments

A particularly alarming forecast was voiced by Cristian Vlas, a researcher on Eastern Europe at the conflict-monitoring organization ACLED. In his assessment, the consequences of infrastructure destruction may turn out to be noticeably worse than during the previous heating season. «This winter we will see a terrible humanitarian situation, and much earlier than last year,» he said.

The financial burden on allies

John Lough, head of international cooperation at the London-based analytical center New Eurasian Strategies Centre, believes that many of Kyiv's European allies have not yet grasped the full seriousness of the situation and underestimate the financial burden that may fall on them in the coming months. According to analysts, the consequences of strikes on the energy sector are accumulating, complicating not only the supply of electricity and heat to the population but also the operation of enterprises; damage to industrial and transport infrastructure creates additional pressure on the economy, and restoring it requires significant funds.

The situation in Kyiv

An especially tense situation has developed in Kyiv: scheduled and emergency power outages continue there, and there are disruptions to water supply and heating. Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the city's power supply situation remains the most difficult in the country. Verkhovna Rada deputy Serhiy Kozyr suggested that in winter electricity in Kyiv homes may be available for only two hours a day.