Stefano Leszczynski, Karol Darmoros – Vatican City State
Stefano Leszczynski, Karol Darmoros – Vatican
Ukraine: this is terror against civilians
Moscow continuously strikes Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Over the past few days, dozens of missiles and hundreds of guided bombs have fallen on the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the weekend airstrikes “deliberate and cynical terrorism against the civilian population.” With temperatures reaching minus 20 degrees Celsius, the destruction of power plants and substations means power outages, lack of heating, and frozen water pipes. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that at least a thousand buildings in the capital remain without heat.
Humanitarian alarm
The situation is confirmed by Alberto Livoni, humanitarian coordinator for the VIS organization. “This is an extremely critical moment in many regions where we run projects,” he says in an interview with Vatican media. He reports that large cities, such as Dnipro and Kyiv, are struggling with power outages, and sometimes there is no electricity for days. He also adds that in such a harsh winter, running water supplies are often interrupted. “I had a similar experience in 2023 when I was in Ukraine in winter – it was very cold, but it wasn’t as difficult as this year,” assesses Alberto Livoni.
Help despite everything
Since 2023, attacks on energy infrastructure have systematically worsened the situation for civilians. “Despite the difficulties, VIS continues all aid projects,” emphasizes Livoni. The organization provides food, materials for home repairs, especially in the east of the country, and also offers psychosocial support, particularly for children.
Need for greater support
Funding cuts, including after the closure of USAID, hinder aid efforts. “Thanks to the support of Italy and other private and institutional donors, we have managed to maintain and even expand some projects,” notes Livoni, pointing to the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions. “The priority, however, is to continue to secure funds to meet the challenges of the winter months, which will leave deep scars in people’s lives,” he adds.
