UK condemns Russia's attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Holland condemns Russia's attacks on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure, highlighting the severe impact on the civilian population. The UK calls on Russia to respect international law.

"Thank you, Mr Chair.

Russia has once again weaponised winter, launching a series of coordinated attacks on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure in recent weeks. These strikes have severely disrupted gas production and hit critical storage facilities in western Ukraine.  Strikes on thermal power stations on 10th October left half of Kyiv without power and many without access to water.

The UK strongly condemns Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, particularly its domestic gas production capacity. Restoring this capacity is both challenging and expensive, often taking many months to repair and increasing the need for gas imports over winter.  As the country enters winter and heating demand rises, such attacks have an even greater impact.

These attacks are morally indefensible, and the UK is not alone in having this assessment. The UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reported that Russia's systematic targeting of energy infrastructure may amount to war crimes and, in some cases, crimes against humanity. The Commission concluded that such strikes, particularly during winter, show a “disregard for civilian harm and suffering” and violate international humanitarian law. Similarly, reporting by ODIHR has stated that Russia's large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities reflect a general disregard for the laws of war and may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Russia argues that these sites are legitimate military targets, justifying their actions by stating they are weakening facilities that assist Ukraine's military industrial complex. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine found that Russia's attacks on these sites likely violated the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution to protect civilians and civilian objects.

So far this year Russia has launched around 40,000 drones—a fourfold increase from 2024. In September alone, at least 214 civilians were killed and nearly 1,000 injured, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission. And just this month, Russia carried out its largest coordinated assault of the war on Ukraine's gas infrastructure, deploying 35 missiles and 60 drones in a single offensive, which resulted in the tragic death of a child. Each round of peace talks has coincided with further escalations in Russian attacks.

Mr Chair, the UK stands resolutely with Ukraine.  We urge continued support for Ukraine's air defences and energy resilience.  And we call on Russia to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and the OSCE Decalogue. Russia must not deliberately target civilian infrastructure that provides essential needs for Ukraine's population; and must withdraw from the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine.

Thank you."