Attachments
MAIN DEVELOPMENTS IN UKRAINE BETWEEN 1 OCTOBER AND 31 DECEMBER 2024
• In the fourth quarter (Q4), the Russian army launched four missile and drone attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, primarily targeting electrical facilities, thermal power plants, boiler stations heating civilian homes, and gas infrastructure. The attacks led to intermittent power loss and rolling blackouts, disrupting residential homes’ and businesses’ access to power, heating, and water. The attacks affected almost all oblasts, but scheduled power cuts occurred less frequently than expected but still averaged eight hours daily (Hromadske 25/12/2024; TKI 13/12/2024; OHCHR 26/12/2024; BBC 17/11/2024; Slovo i Dilo 17/11/2024; Suspilne 22/11/2024 and 04/12/2024).
• Reports of civilian infrastructure damage increased substantially throughout the country, particularly in Kharkivska, Khersonska, and Sumska oblasts. Such damage increased nearly tenfold in Odeska oblast, threefold in Kyivska and Mykolaivska oblasts, and twofold in Zaporizka oblast (ACAPS accessed 15/01/2025)
• Increased targeting of civilian infrastructure led to electricity, water, and heating disruptions, particularly in Donetska, Kharkivska, and Sumska oblasts (UNIAN 08/01/2025;
Suspilne 18/12/2024 and 07/11/2024; UNN 11/11/2024; RBC Ukraine 07/11/2024).
• Given heightened security concerns, humanitarian organisations had limited or no humanitarian access in parts of Donetska and Kharkivska oblasts. In the former, aid delivery constraints were reported in Bakhmutskyi and Pokrovskyi raions. In Kharkivska oblast, aid delivery and road travel became more constrained in Bohodukhivskyi, Chuhuivskyi,
Iziumskyi, and Kupianskyi raions (KII 24/01/2024; Korrespondent 06/11/2024; Glavcom 27/11/2024;
Slovo i Dilo 06/11/2024; Bahmut 04/12/2024; Ukrainska Pravda 30/10/2024; Suspilne 14/10/2024; Aqlity 04/12/2024).
• Compared to Q3 (19 events), Q4 saw slightly fewer (13) publicly reported attacks on humanitarian responders and facilities that injured humanitarian employees and civilians and precluded humanitarian operations in Donetska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, and Mykolaivska oblasts (ACAPS accessed 15/01/2025)
• Between October–December, the quickly advancing front line in the Pokrovsk city and nearby led to the announcement of mandatory evacuations for 211 children with their parents or other legal representatives from 28 settlements in Volnovaskyi and Pokrovskyi raions (Slovo i Dilo 17/12/2024; Suspilne 04/12/2024).
• The new Mobilisation Law, enacted in May 2024, continued to affect humanitarian operations and the provision of public services (e.g. water, gas, and public transport) to the civilian population by mobilising specialists employed in logistics, healthcare, public transportation, construction, and utilities (KII 23/01/2025; KII 28/01/2025 a; KII 27/01/2025;
Telegraf 27/12/2024; Forbes 21/11/2024; Focus 28/11/2024; Interfax 04/10/2024)