Zelenskiy tells Ukrainians to prepare for Russian winter onslaught

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine has warned the public to prepare for new waves of Russian attacks on infrastructure as winter approaches. He stated that troops are anticipating an onslaught in the eastern theatre of the war. While Russian attacks on the town of Avdiivka have eased in the past day, they are expected to intensify in the coming days. Ukrainian military intelligence reported an explosion that killed at least three Russian servicemen in the Russian-occupied town of Melitopol, describing it as an “act of revenge” by resistance groups. Zelenskiy issued his warning during a video address following the first missile attack on Kyiv in seven weeks. He emphasized the need for defense and responding to terrorists to ensure Ukraine’s survival through the winter. Last winter, Russia launched attacks on power stations and other energy-related facilities, causing rolling blackouts in various regions. While Ukraine’s Energy Minister believes they have enough resources to get through the winter, the impact of future attacks on supplies remains a concern. Ukrainian officials have reported that Russia has already struck Ukrainian infrastructure 60 times in recent weeks, indicating an ongoing campaign of attacks. Zelenskiy praised the efforts of troops defending Avdiivka and acknowledged the significant losses suffered by the enemy. However, he noted that Russian forces are becoming more active in the Bakhmut sector and attempting to recover lost positions. The town of Bakhmut was captured by Russian forces in May but has since been retaken by Ukrainian troops. Russian accounts claim that they repelled five Ukrainian attacks near Bakhmut, but these claims cannot be independently verified. In Melitopol, an explosion at a post office used as a military headquarters killed three Russian officers. Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate identified them as officers of Russia’s National Guard or FSB intelligence service. The Ukrainian military has been increasingly active in attacking Russian-held areas, although they do not always acknowledge these strikes.