UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on plight of civilians in Ukraine as result of attacks on energy infrastructure

The UN Rights Office on Friday warned about the plight of civilians in Ukraine after further attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

“This week’s massive missile and drone attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukraine’s power network have heightened serious concerns about the plight of civilians, who are facing a winter of hardship and misery,” spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told the biweekly briefing in Geneva.

Thursday’s missile and long-range drone strikes reportedly caused damage in at least 13 regions, in addition to Kyiv City, and resulted in blackouts affecting more than one million consumers across the country. In some regions, essential services, including water and transportation, were disrupted.

“Since March, Ukraine’s energy production capacity has been targeted in waves of attacks, causing foreseeable and wide-ranging harm to civilians. As ever, the most vulnerable - older people, low-income households, people with disabilities and those who are internally displaced – have been particularly put at risk,” Laurence said.

“As temperatures drop below freezing, and are likely to fall further, electricity and electricity-dependent services are even more critical for the survival of the civilian population,” he added.

While the full impact of the latest strikes will only become clearer in due course, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has consistently followed up in the wake of such attacks, documenting the effects on electricity production, water distribution, heating and hot water, public health and education. In essence, the basics of daily life for millions of civilians, across the entire country.

“The High Commissioner reiterates that multiple aspects of the military campaign to damage or destroy Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure, including objects essential for civilian survival – such as heating facilities during the winter months – raise serious concerns regarding Russian forces’ respect of cardinal principles of international humanitarian law of distinction, precaution and proportionality in the conduct of hostilities. These recurring, systematic attacks must be investigated and anyone found responsible for serious violations should be held to account,” the spokesperson said.

“We call again on the Russian Federation to immediately cease all attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure critical to the civilian population, for accountability for all unlawful attacks, and for the international community to prioritize support to Ukraine to repair and restore its energy systems.”

For more information and media requests, please contact

In Geneva:

Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org

Liz Throssell: +41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org

Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

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