Estonian PM: EU must help Ukraine to survive upcoming winter as Russian prepares attacks on power systems

Europe must aid Ukraine with energy exports, goods, and financial support to help it get through the winter amid Russian strikes on power infrastructure, said Estonian Prime Minister Krištein Mihal at the European Council in Brussels, according to UkrInform. Earlier, the International Energy Agency warned that the upcoming winter would be Ukraine's most severe test since the beginning of Russia's all-out war, as numerous power plants have been destroyed or damaged in missile attacks. In 2022 and 2023, about half of Ukraine’s generating capacity was occupied, destroyed, or damaged by Russian forces, with roughly half of the major power substations damaged by missiles and drones. Given that Ukraine has lost over two-thirds of its electricity production capacity since 2022, there is a significant gap between available supply and peak demand. From March to August, Russian forces launched nine waves of massive, complex, and coordinated attacks on energy facilities across 20 regions of Ukraine and Kyiv, resulting in power outages lasting from 4 to 18 hours daily.

"The coming winter will be very harsh in Ukraine. Everyone understands that Russia is systematically and deliberately bombing various energy and thermal infrastructures. Therefore, Europe has the opportunity to help Ukraine with energy exports, goods, and financial support during the winter," said Estonian Prime Minister Krištein Mihal.

The official assured that Estonia would continue supporting Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia. Mihal reminded that Estonia has committed to providing Ukraine with support amounting to 0.25% of its GDP over the coming years. Earlier, Colonel Ants Kiviselg, head of the Estonian Defense Forces’ Intelligence Center, said that Ukrainian strikes on artillery ammunition depots would further worsen the shortage of Russian munitions.

Estonian Intelligence chief says Ukrainian strikes on ammo depots worsen Russia’s munitions crisis

Recently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck a central missile and artillery depot in the settlement of Karachev in Bryansk Oblast. According to open sources, the depot stored ammunition from North Korea. It is the fourth artillery ammunition depot destroyed in drone attacks. Related:

• Ukraine’s Tver ammo depot attack featuring jet drones lowers Russian threat to Baltics
• Massive drone assault targets Russian ammo depot and arsenal across multiple regions
• ISW: Ukrainian drone attack on Russian ammo depot in Tver proves value of long-range strikes