The United Nations warns of a major crisis during the winter in Ukraine

Attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine

Schmael added that this year recorded the killing of a greater number of civilians than in 2024, with a 30% increase in the number of victims. A third of civilian deaths and injuries in 2025 resulted from drone attacks.

He said in a press conference in Geneva "It is increasingly a technological war: a drone war"

The intensification of attacks in areas close to the front lines forced more than 57 thousand people to flee, while markets in these areas became "Increasingly paralyzed"

Challenges of winter in Ukraine

Shmael said. "It is an increasing struggle for survival"In light of the limited access to basic materials.

He continued "The destruction of energy production and distribution capacity as winter approaches clearly affects the civilian population and constitutes a form of terrorism"

He stressed that the United Nations winter response plan, which aims to provide aid to more than 1.7 million people, including heating and financial aid, was only 50% funded.

The impact of the Russian war on Ukraine

He said "Our basic assumption for 2026 is that the war will continue. At the moment, there is no indication that it will end soon"

He expressed his admiration for people’s ability to withstand, but he warned, saying: "Let us not overstate the importance of this capability. Civilians are feeling increasingly tired of this conflict"

He added that the impact of this war on mental health is worsening, commenting: Ukraine may have to deal with this situation for at least an entire generation, and perhaps for other generations.