Photo: Taras Chmut/Facebook
Ukraine may be insufficiently prepared for the coming winter because political infighting has diverted attention from the war, Taras Chmut, head of the Come Back Alive Foundation, said in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda.
Chmut warned that last winter was already the hardest for millions of Ukrainians, and the next one could be even more difficult.
"With the reset of the Defense Ministry, the conflict within the Armed Forces and the focus shifting from the war to politics, we will not be adequately prepared," he said.
He argued that Ukraine still lacks effective protection against Russian ballistic missiles and warned that Moscow is stockpiling jet-powered drones that current counter-drone systems cannot reliably intercept.
"Energy infrastructure cannot be built, protected or restored in six months or even a year. This is a long-term challenge," Chmut said.
He added that some Ukrainians should consider spending the winter in rural areas, smaller towns or even abroad if possible.
"It looks like the Russians will use ballistic missiles to destroy our energy infrastructure," he said, adding that the severity of the winter could depend on whether political or diplomatic agreements are reached.
