This winter, Ukraine will be fighting for more than light and heat

What does it mean for Ukraine's frontline cities to fight for light and heat during winter?

Fighting for light and heat means keeping essential energy services operating through repeated attacks during winter. For frontline cities, power and heating are not conveniences. They support hospitals, homes, schools and daily survival. A city must also prevent the loss of residents, businesses and economic activity that makes recovery possible.

Kharkiv has experienced power and heat losses after Russian attacks. Its authorities are decentralising energy generation and building reserve capacity, so one strike cannot cut essential services across a large area. The city has also moved learning into metro stations and underground schools when ordinary schools could become targets.

Ukraine is preparing for a fifth difficult winter under hostile fire. Its cities are using experience gathered over four years to protect infrastructure and maintain public services. European support, including generators, transformers and decentralised heating, helps communities function now while preserving the conditions for future recovery.

Which parts of Ukraine are considered frontline communities, and why are they especially vulnerable?

Frontline communities are the cities and communities closest to, or directly involved in, the conflict. Ihor Terekhov describes representing more than 300 communities in the direct midst of the war. Their location matters because attacks threaten critical infrastructure and make normal economic activity unusually risky.

A business in Kharkiv or another regularly attacked city faces risks that businesses elsewhere in Europe do not. Investors, banks and insurers all see the war risk. Families also face difficult choices about medicine, rent, work and whether to remain in their hometown. Damaged power, heating and schools add pressure to daily life.

These communities therefore face linked security, demographic and investment pressures. Prolonged hardship can push people and young workers away, leaving fewer businesses and less human capital. The article argues that future European recovery tools should recognise these distinct frontline conditions rather than treat every part of Ukraine alike.

How much poverty is Ukraine facing, and how large is the EU's winter energy support package?

The article reports that 41.6% of Ukraine's population lived below the national poverty line in 2025, citing the World Bank's latest estimate. Poverty is not only a national statistic. It reflects families being forced to choose between medicine and rent, staying home and seeking work, or remaining in Ukraine and leaving the country.

The European Union's winter energy support package is worth €920 million and covers 2026–2027. Its purpose is to help stabilise Ukraine's energy system and strengthen its resilience. In practical terms, support can provide generators for hospitals, transformers for homes and decentralised heating for neighbourhoods.

The figures show both the scale of social strain and the scale of immediate European assistance. Yet the article argues that support must look beyond one winter. Frontline areas need recovery instruments that address their combined security, demographic and investment pressures, so poverty does not accelerate depopulation.

How are attacks on power, heating and other critical infrastructure affecting schools, hospitals and daily life?

Attacks on critical infrastructure disrupt the systems that make ordinary life possible. Losing electricity or heat can threaten lives, especially during winter. Hospitals may struggle to keep working, homes can go cold, and public services face interruptions. The damage also makes families and businesses question whether they can remain.

Kharkiv shows how daily life is being redesigned. After attacks caused power and heat losses, the city began decentralising energy generation and building reserve capacity. Education also moved underground, first into metro-station classrooms and later into underground schools. These measures reduce dependence on one exposed facility or system.

The effects extend beyond physical damage. War gradually exhausts families and can drive workers, businesses and young people away. Ukraine's cities have gained practical experience protecting infrastructure and maintaining services under sustained attack. European equipment and funding can help keep hospitals, homes, schools and neighbourhoods functioning through another difficult winter.

Why is Ukraine decentralising energy generation and building reserve capacity instead of simply repairing damaged systems?

Simply repairing damaged systems restores yesterday's design, but it can leave cities vulnerable to the next strike. Ukraine is therefore changing the architecture of its energy system. Decentralisation and reserve capacity spread essential services across more locations and create alternatives when part of the network is damaged.

Kharkiv is the clearest example. Rather than only repairing power and heating facilities after attacks, the city is decentralising generation and building reserve capacity. The mechanism is straightforward: one strike should no longer be able to cut essential services across a large part of the city. The same logic has influenced underground education facilities.

This approach reflects four years of Ukrainian experience protecting infrastructure during sustained attack. It is designed for continued winter operations, not just emergency repair. The article hopes other European cities will never need to learn these lessons through war, but says Ukraine can share the knowledge it has gained.

What roles do the Ukrainian government, frontline city authorities and the European Union play in keeping these communities functioning?

The Ukrainian government and national institutions provide the wider framework for surviving the war and recovering afterward, while frontline city authorities deliver practical protection and services. Mayors and local authorities must keep electricity, heating, education and other essential systems working under attack. Their decisions directly affect whether residents can stay.

Kharkiv illustrates the local role. Its authorities are decentralising energy generation, adding reserve capacity and creating underground schools. Cities also maintain public services and protect critical infrastructure using experience built over four years. The article presents the Association of Frontline Cities and Communities as representing more than 300 communities in the conflict's direct midst.

The European Union supplies indispensable financial and material support. Its €920 million 2026–2027 Winter Energy Plan helps stabilise energy and strengthen resilience. Generators support hospitals, transformers restore electricity and decentralised heating protects neighbourhoods. The article calls for future European tools such as guarantees, war-risk insurance and affordable finance.

Why are jobs, businesses and residents considered forms of human capital that are essential to a city's long-term recovery?

Human capital means the people, skills and working capacity that allow a city to function and rebuild. The article connects it to residents, businesses and jobs. Buildings and roads can be repaired, but recovery is much harder when workers leave, companies close and young people no longer see a future locally.

The article gives a clear chain of cause and effect. War damages infrastructure and exhausts families. Poverty then forces choices about medicine, rent, work and relocation. Businesses face war risk, while investors, banks and insurers become cautious. If people and companies leave, the city loses income, services, skills and the reason for others to stay.

That is why recovery must begin during the war, not afterward. Schools, hospitals and businesses need to function now if people are to return later. Protecting the workforce and local enterprises also makes postwar investment more likely. Support should therefore help businesses operate despite risk, rather than create permanent dependence on aid.

Key Facts:

📌 Power and heat losses can mean the difference between life and death.

📌 Kharkiv is decentralising energy generation and building reserve capacity.

📌 Underground schools help children learn when ordinary schools become targets.

📌 More than 300 communities are represented in the direct midst of the conflict.

📌 Frontline businesses face risks that businesses elsewhere in Europe do not.

📌 Prolonged hardship can cause depopulation in frontline regions.

📌 41.6% of Ukraine's population lived below the national poverty line in 2025.