UN warns civilians on Ukraine frontlines face struggle to survive this winter - Assalamu alaikum
Assalamu alaikum. Saw this report and felt I should share a simple summary.
GENEVA - The United Nations is warning that life for civilians near the frontlines in Ukraine is turning into a daily struggle to survive, especially as winter approaches. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, said civilians are bearing the heaviest burden in the fourth winter since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. He noted this year has been deadlier for civilians than last year, with a roughly 30% rise in casualties. About one-third of the recorded civilian deaths and injuries in 2025 came from drone strikes. “This is increasingly a technological war: a drone war,” he told reporters.
He added that more than 57,000 people displaced from frontline areas have sought help at transit points, and markets near fighting zones are becoming less functional. Beyond the obvious terror of sirens and attacks, people are increasingly just trying to survive with limited access to basic goods.
- Energy attacks -
Schmale expressed deep worry for residents preparing for another winter in frontline cities. He warned many could end up trapped in high-rise buildings without water or electricity because of attacks on civilian energy infrastructure. “Destroying energy production and distribution capacity as winter starts clearly impacts the civilian population and is a form of terror,” he said. If repairs can’t keep up with destruction, the situation “could turn into a major crisis.” The UN’s winter plan to help more than 1.7 million people with heating and cash assistance is only about half funded.
- Protracted conflict -
Schmale said there’s been no real progress toward ending the fighting, and multiple calls for a ceasefire have been refused. “Our basic planning assumption for 2026 is the war is continuing,” he said. “This feels increasingly like a protracted war. Right now it doesn’t feel like it’s ending any time soon.” He praised the resilience of civilians but warned against romanticizing it, noting the growing mental health toll that may affect Ukraine for a generation or more.
May Allah grant safety to the innocent and make an end to the suffering. Please keep those affected in your duas and consider supporting reputable humanitarian aid if you can.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/