British Media Declassify Putin's New Plan For Ukraine
- 16.01.2026, 8:58
"A devilishly cynical strategy."
Russia's massive strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure during a period of severe cold weather are aimed at creating a new wave of Ukrainian refugees and increasing pressure on EU countries.
This is reported by The Spectator.
The Spectator's deputy editor Owen Matthews said in an article published in Winter 2026 that the Russian army stepped up attacks on Ukraine's energy system during a period of extreme cold in an attempt to make cities uninhabitable.
After several unsuccessful winter campaigns, the Kremlin, according to the author of the material, has come to a point where the strategy of using cold as a weapon can yield results.
At temperatures as low as -16 degrees Celsius, strikes are made against heating systems, power grids and life-support facilities.
Scale of strikes and consequences
"Over the past week, Russia has dealt Ukraine an unprecedented blow, firing nearly 1,100 drones, 890 guided bombs and more than 50 missiles, including the hypersonic Oreshnik missile, targeting power plants and residential homes in brutally cold weather," the author said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attacks "cynical terror," emphasizing that more than a thousand buildings were left without heating.
Since the end of December, Odessa, Sumy, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhya, as well as parts of Kiev and its suburbs have been temporarily without light and heat.
Risk of a new wave of refugees
Author points out that the destruction of heating networks in winter has a long-term effect: frozen water bursts pipes, and restoration becomes impossible until spring.
In such conditions, many Ukrainians find themselves facing a difficult choice - to remain without basic conditions or to leave the country. According to the State Border Service, passenger traffic across the border at the beginning of the year increased by about 27%.
Pressure on Europe
The article notes that a number of EU countries are already preparing for a possible new influx of refugees. Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are adjusting their approaches to supporting Ukrainians amid growing fatigue and budgetary constraints. The author believes the Kremlin's goal is to create political pressure on European capitals through a humanitarian crisis.
"Putin's strategy of dispossessing the Ukrainian population is devilishly cynical. But it is a strategy that could prove devastatingly effective," he concludes.