The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, condemned the recent large-scale attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which have resulted in widespread power outages and heating failures across major cities, including Kyiv and Odesa. During a press conference on October 10, 2023, Türk described these strikes as “cruel” and demanded an immediate halt, emphasizing that civilians are suffering the most from these assaults.
“Targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a clear breach of the rules of warfare,” Türk stated, warning that continued attacks on essential infrastructure would exacerbate human suffering. He highlighted that “hundreds of thousands of families are now without heating,” with significant portions of Kyiv lacking access to water as well. The humanitarian impact is particularly severe for vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
Impact on Civilians and Infrastructure
Matthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, reinforced Türk’s concerns, noting that many parents are unable to prepare hot meals for their children due to the loss of heating. “Many older people have been left isolated in cold homes yet again,” Schmale added. He termed the ongoing strikes on energy infrastructure as “hideous” and a violation of international humanitarian law that must cease immediately.
According to Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, at least 5,635 multi-storey residential buildings were left without heating after the latest round of attacks. This series of strikes is part of a broader strategy that has seen Russian forces systematically target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since October 2022. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that nine waves of coordinated attacks were launched between March 22 and August 21, 2024, significantly damaging the country’s electric power system.
Legal Implications and Challenges
The report indicated that these large-scale attacks have severely diminished Ukraine’s power generation capacity, with 73 percent of thermal power plants and 20 hydroelectric generation units rendered inoperative due to extensive damage by June 2024. This reduction in capacity has had far-reaching consequences for essential services, including water distribution, sewage management, and public health.
Moreover, the latest strikes have intensified these challenges, particularly as the need for electricity and heating surges during the colder winter months. Experts suggest that these attacks may constitute violations of international humanitarian law and could be classified as war crimes under the Geneva Conventions, to which both Russia and Ukraine are signatories. Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits “extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly.”
Despite this, there is a debate regarding the legality of targeting power infrastructure for military purposes. The International Committee of the Red Cross has noted that power plants primarily used for military functions could be legitimate military targets. This perspective has been used by Russian officials to justify their actions as necessary to “weaken and destroy the military potential of our opponents.”
The ongoing crisis highlights the urgent need for international attention and action to protect civilian lives and uphold humanitarian laws in conflict zones. As the situation develops, the call for an end to these attacks remains critical to alleviating the suffering of countless civilians in Ukraine.
