Ukraine braces for 2026/27 heating season under Russian strike threat

Ukraine is entering the 2026/27 heating season under the constant threat of renewed Russian strikes on its critical infrastructure, with authorities warning of a difficult winter due to a shortage of air defense missiles and Moscow's plans to use cold as a weapon. Ukraine has obtained documents detailing Russia's strategy for winter attacks, which include strikes on heating, water supply, and energy interconnectors in major cities. Kyiv has built over 200 concrete shelters and protective screens, and officials say the country is three to four times better prepared than last year, though a full defense of the energy system is impossible. Experts say the main threat is not an overall electricity deficit, as Ukraine enters winter with more generation capacity and import options, but localized blackouts during massive attacks, particularly around Kyiv, Odesa, and Kryvyi Ryk. International aid is arriving slowly, with bureaucratic delays hampering the delivery of critical equipment.