Attacks on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure: Harm to the Civilian Population
Publisher: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Date: 2024
Topics: Peace and Security Operations, Weapons, Waste, and Pollution
Countries: Ukraine
Between 22 March and 31 August 2024, the Russian Federation armed forces launched nine waves of long-range and large-scale coordinated attacks on Ukraine’s electric power system, damaging or destroying numerous power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. The strikes had reverberating effects causing harm to the civilian population and the country’s electricity supply, water distribution, sewage and sanitation systems, heating and hot water, public health, education, and the economy.
This harm will take years to fully repair and restore, requiring significant resources from public and private sectors in an economy already burdened by the armed conflict. The attacks have caused additional population displacement and have disproportionately impacted groups in a situation of vulnerability, such as older persons, those with disabilities, households with lower incomes, and the internally displaced, with women particularly affected. Any additional attacks will further compound this harm.