How Ukraine survived ‘the toughest winter in its history’

Ukraine assured this on Wednesday “survived the toughest winter in its history”despite massive Russian bombing that has left millions without electricity, a year after Moscow began its invasion.

But on the ground Ukrainian forces are under pressure in the east of the country, especially in Bakhmut, and Russia said it had repelled a “massive” drone attack on the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmytro Kuleba, assured on Wednesday that the country “has overcome the winter terrors”.

“It was cold and dark, but we were adamant,” she said.

According to the Ukrainian calendar, spring begins on March 1st.

The attacks

Ukraine suffered a winter under a long series of Russian attacks with missiles and explosive drones against energy facilities, periodically causing massive cuts in electricity and drinking water.

These bombings forced the national operator Ukrenergo to supply alternating current. And the Ukrainian emergency services had to quickly repair the damage caused at each facility.

Millions of people, including residents of Kiev and other major cities, they had to endure freezing temperatures no heating.

“Our partners helped us. The EU (European Union) also won and, contrary to provocations from Moscow, did not freeze without Russian gas“Kuleba insisted, referring to Moscow’s doomsday predictions before winter.

“The road is long until final victory. But we already know how to win,” said the minister.

Western allies of Ukraine supplied her with anti-aircraft defense systems and Russia has reduced the frequency and scale of its attacks.

Ukrenergo confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine’s electricity system had not experienced an energy deficit for 18 days and no cuts were expected.

During the winter the fighting was concentrated in the east of the country, especially around the city of Bakhmut, where the situation is “extremely tense“, according to the Ukrainian military, after the relentless attacks from Moscow.

Russian advance

In recent weeks, Russian troops have tightened the siege around this city, the conquest of which has become a symbol of control of the industrial basin of Donbass, in the east of the country.

The Russians they cut three of the four highways Ukrainian supply to the city.

AFP reporters discovered on Wednesday that the road to Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, some 15km to the west, had been blocked by police.

But the spokesman of the Ukrainian Army Eastern Command, Sergiy Cherevaty, he denied that his troops were withdrawing from Bakhmutin statements to AFP.

A possible withdrawal “will depend on the operational situation. So far this decision has not been made,” he said.

The Ukrainian presidency reported on Wednesday that Russian shelling in the Donetsk region they left three civilians dead and four others wounded.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced it had shot down or disabled 10 Ukrainian drones in an attempted “massive” attack on facilities on the annexed Crimean peninsula, following a similar incursion the day before with these devices on Russian territory.

“A massive attempted drone strike by the Kiev regime against facilities on the Crimean peninsula has been thwarted,” a statement read.

On the Eastern Front, Ukrainian medics were treating soldiers seriously wounded in the fighting.

“Here we save someone every day”Igor, a 28-year-old anesthetist, explained to AFP after examining a patient.

“You remember the exceptional cases, of people with life-threatening injuries. Partially mutilated heads, major arteries ripped out, where you can’t help the sick. That’s what you remember,” he said.

On the diplomatic front, one of Moscow’s main allies, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, said in Beijing on Wednesday who “fully” supports the Chinese plan for Ukraine.

China unveiled a 12-point proposal last week in which it urges dialogue between Russians and Ukrainians, but also insists on respect for territorial integrity and opposes the use of nuclear weapons.

Despite a skeptical reception from Western allies, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski has said he is willing to “work” with China and has announced his intention to meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping.

AFP agency