Ukraine energy attacks could put lives at risk as winter nears, Amnesty International warned on November 2, 2026. The rights group urged Russian forces to stop strikes on power and heat supplies used by civilians.
Amnesty says power cuts threaten more than the lights in people’s homes. Without heat, water and power, schools and health services can suffer too. Older people and those with children face greater risks, the group says.
Ukraine energy attacks and civilian harm
A United Nations team looked at the harm from strikes through the winter of 2025–2026. It heard from 255 people who had lived through power and heat cuts. It also drew on accounts from doctors, state staff and aid groups.
The UN team found that millions lost power as the cold reached minus 21°C. Some homes lacked heat for days or weeks. The report says new strikes and cold weather made it harder to fix the damage.
The team found that Russia’s state-led strikes on civilian sites were war crimes and crimes against humanity. Those are its findings, not a court verdict. It said Russia did not accept its role and had not replied to requests for access and facts.
UN team records deaths and injuries
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified at least 328 civilian deaths and 2,105 injuries in September 2026. These counts cover harm from the war across the country. They are not a toll from power plant strikes alone.
The UN mission says the real toll is likely higher, since it cannot check every reported case. It also records new Russian strikes on power and heat sites. Damage on September 30 led to emergency power cuts.
Calls to protect heat and power
Amnesty calls on all sides to protect civilians. It also urges states to back efforts to find who was responsible for crimes and to keep proof safe.
The UN team calls for Russia to stop striking civilian power and heat sites. Even where a site is a lawful military target, it says forces must take care to limit harm to civilians.
Sources: UN inquiry report, UN civilian casualty update, Amnesty International
