by Brigid Rowlings, LHI Communications Director
On a recent rainy, gloomy morning, I sat swaddled in sweats and huddled under a blanket in my home office here in Waltham, Massachusetts, a city about 15 minutes west of Boston. As I wrapped my hands around a mug of hot tea, I silently cursed the city-wide power surge that had occurred over the weekend and fried our thermostats. Then I considered the fact that it was only October cold, and that soon Amazon would be delivering our replacement thermostats. It could be far worse-it could be January cold and the timing of the return of our home heat uncertain.
This winter, many Ukrainians will have it far worse. Winter in Ukraine runs from December to March, when temperatures can drop as low as -20℃ (-4℉). This winter, a key Russian strategy is to put pressure on Ukraine by attacking infrastructure that supplies heat, electricity and water to homes, hospitals, shelters, and orphanages.
Ukrainians are already dealing with the consequences of Russian attacks on power plants.
As of today:
Russia has destroyed about 40% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, affecting 16 of the country’s 24 regions, or oblasts. If the same proportion of US states were impacted by attacks on our energy infrastructure, 33.5 states would be impacted.
A recent spate of cruise missile and drone strikes hit Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities. In Kyiv 80% of the population of 3 million people were left without water until repairs could be made.
As the Ukrainian government scrambles to stabilize energy grid and repair systems ahead of winter, Ukrainians experience regular but unpredictable rolling blackouts.
The loss of water and electricity is already inconvenient. Every time the power goes out, people lose access to the internet and can’t charge their phones. Parents of babies and small children prepare thermoses of hot water when it is available so that they will have some on hand to heat milk or food. But, as temperatures drop, and people are not able to consistently heat their homes, the situation will become deadly.
These boys who are snuggling under a blanket from an LHI aid distribution have been displaced from their homes by the war.
Lifting Hands International will continue to send aid such as thermal underwear, blankets, and sleeping bags to Ukraine.
To learn more or to donate, please visit our Ukraine response page.