Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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February 13, 2026 Peace and security
Systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in January resulted in grave consequences for the civilian population, according to the monthly report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), published on Friday.
According to the Mission, at least 161 civilians were killed and another 757 injured across Ukraine in January—approximately the same number as in the same period the previous year. Long-range weapons strikes, including missiles and drones, accounted for 39 percent of all casualties. Most of the casualties were located near the front line, where short-range drones remained the primary cause of civilian deaths.
Harsh winter
The report states that the strikes by the Russian armed forces, which continued in February, caused widespread disruptions with electricity, heating and water supply throughout Ukraine amid sub-zero temperatures.
Mission staff visited warming centers, hospitals, and educational institutions in the hardest-hit areas to document the impact of the outages in the midst of one of the harshest winters in recent memory.
"The scale and persistence of these attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for the lives and well-being of civilians," said HRMMU Head Danielle Bell. "When electricity, heat, and water are repeatedly cut off in the middle of winter, basic survival becomes a daily struggle."
Constant attacks
According to the Mission, in January, Russian armed forces struck energy facilities almost daily, including at least five massive attacks that simultaneously hit multiple regions. Damage or destruction was recorded in at least 17 regions of Ukraine, as well as in Kyiv.
Extended power outages across the country caused heating and water problems, especially in multi-story buildings. Millions of people had power for only a few hours a day for a month.
Repeated strikes on district heating facilities had particularly serious consequences. In Kyiv, missiles and drones repeatedly hit two combined heat and power plants, each time resulting in heat outages in nearly 6,000 multi-story buildings. As a result, authorities announced that heating would not be restored to more than 1,100 buildings by the end of winter.
Basic rights have been violated
The Mission emphasized that the prolonged absence of electricity, heat and water had a negative impact on a wide range of human rights, including the right to adequate housing, healthcare, and education. Temperatures in apartments plummeted, forcing some people to leave. Hospitals and clinics canceled procedures, and many schools closed.
The outages were particularly hard on people with limited mobility, who found themselves trapped in their homes during outages due to inoperative elevators. Some had to be relocated to special institutions. Families with small children also faced particular difficulties when the temperature inside dropped and cooking was impossible.
"The destruction of critical infrastructure has predictable and devastating humanitarian consequences," Bell emphasized. "It disrupts civilian life, impedes the fulfillment of basic needs and human rights, and leaves millions of people facing extreme deprivation. Civilians should never pay the price for attacks on vital services."
Strikes on Russian territory
The UN Human Rights Mission also noted reports of Ukrainian military strikes on energy facilities in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation in January, leading to localized power, heating, and water outages for civilians.
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