UN sees harsh winter in Ukraine after Russian attacks on power plants

People in Ukraine are facing a harsh winter because of the energy crisis provoked by Russian attacks, and need additional help to make it through the colder months, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has warned.

"Energy, energy, energy. I have never seen such unanimity everywhere. They are really worried about this issue," Filippo Grandi told dpa in describing his impression of talks with Ukrainian officials.

Officials are very concerned, he said, noting that ordinary people, especially in the eastern Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv, were already afraid of being left without heating in winter.

What is needed is to "keep up the support," Grandi said.

Following the devastating Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian power plants in particular, the UN refugee agency has observed a slight increase in the number of refugees over the past two to three months.

"They are worried to have to face winter - or even this very hot season - without power," Grandi said.

For this reason the electricity crisis, and not necessarily the military attacks, were considered the main reason for Ukrainians to seek refuge abroad.

Russian missile and drone attacks have destroyed more than nine gigawatts of power plant capacity since March. As a result, there have been hours-long power cuts across the country since May.