Weekly Update #43
December 26

Regular waves of attacks on energy infrastructure continue to cause destruction and leave millions of people across Ukraine with no electricity, disrupting water supply and heating systems, while temperatures have fallen below zero in most parts of the country. The attacks have also damaged other civilian infrastructure, including homes, as well as killed and injured civilians across Ukraine over the past couple of weeks.

The most recent attack in the early hours of 19 December, reportedly hit infrastructure in at least 6 of Ukrainian’s 24 oblasts – mainly in the centre and south of the country, injuring at least two civilians, and damaging several buildings in Kyivska oblast, according to the authorities. The authorities have implemented emergency power outages in 10 oblasts and in Kyiv. Earlier on 16 December, as another series of attacks swept over Ukraine, a baby and the mother were killed as a building was hit in Krivyi Rih, central Dnipropetrovska oblast. The strikes also damaged homes and other civilian infrastructure in several parts of the country, including during three reported explosions in Kyiv. Large-scale disruptions of water, power, heating, railway connections and mobile communications were reported all over the country. On 5 December, attacks resulted in power outages in 40 per cent of the capital Kyiv and disconnected the Internet due to the lack of power. Water in Odesa was cut as the main water pipe station was without power; damages also led to a full blackout across the city. Other parts of the country were also affected.

Hostilities and heavy fighting in the country’s east and south continued to impact civilians and humanitarian workers in Khersonska oblast and on both sides of the front line in Donetska oblast. In Kherson, attacks have intensified over the past two weeks, and on 15 December, an aid distribution centre was hit, killing at least two people, including a humanitarian worker in the line of duty. Across the oblast, damages to schools, sports and community centres, medical facilities, residential buildings and energy systems have been reported. Attacks on humanitarian aid distribution points have also been reported in all Khersonska oblast rayons, according to humanitarian security reports. While the authorities have restored parts of the energy infrastructure in the city, continued attacks slow down the process and leave thousands without power, heating and water. The humanitarian situation for almost 183,000 people in Kherson and other parts recently retaken by Ukraine remains critical. Many houses require urgent repairs, which is especially dangerous as winter temperatures are keeping low. People need food, warm clothes, basic household and personal items, beds, mattresses and heating solutions. Access to safe water and hygiene is limited, which leads to an elevated risk of associated diseases.

In Donetsk, in the areas under the temporary military control of the Russian Federation, the offices of two humanitarian NGOs were damaged during attacks on 5 and 6 December. The attacks not only caused damages to the premises, normally used for aid distribution but also vehicles belonging to the organizations. There were no casualties inside the buildings, civilians nearby were reportedly injured. Attacks are also regularly reported in Luhanska oblast, signifying the intensification of hostilities along the front line, as well as in Kharkivska and Zaporizka oblasts, with civilian casualties and damaged infrastructure reported.

Sources: OCHA Ukraine: Situation Report, 19 Dec 2022

CIVILIAN CASULTIES

(As of December 19, 2022)

Total civilian casualties from 24 February to 19 December 2022

From 24 February 2022, when the Russian Federation’s armed attack against Ukraine started, to 18 December 2022, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 17,595 civilian casualties in the country: 6,826 killed and 10,769 injured. This included:

a total of 6,826 killed (2,686 men, 1,822 women, 174 girls, and 216 boys, as well as 38 children and 1,890 adults whose sex is yet unknown)
a total of 10,769 injured (2,336 men, 1,690 women, 224 girls, and 314 boys, as well as 252 children and 5,953 adults whose sex is yet unknown)

In Donetsk and Luhansk regions: 9,620 casualties (4,036 killed and 5,584 injured)

On Government-controlled territory: 7,519 casualties (3,553 killed and 3,966 injured)

On territory controlled by Russian armed forces and affiliated armed groups: 2,101 casualties (483 killed and 1,618 injured)

Total civilian casualties from 1-18 December 2022

From 1 to 18 December 2022, OHCHR recorded 462 civilian casualties:

123 killed (52 men, 26 women, 4 boys, as well as 41 adults whose sex is yet unknown); and
339 injured (76 men, 72 women, 7 girls, 4 boys, as well as 2 children and 178 adults whose sex is yet unknown).

Civilian casualties in Ukraine from 24 February to 18 December 2022, per month

Sources: Ukraine: civilian casualty update 19 December 2022

OHCHR: Civilian casualties as of 18 December 2022

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Humanitarian organizations continued supporting the people of Ukraine almost ten months into the war. Since 24 February,

aid workers have reached 13.6 million people with various types of humanitarian aid, including 1 million in areas under the

temporary military control of the Russian Federation, where access remains a challenge.

The number of aid organizations working in Ukraine has increased five-fold in the past nine months to 700. Over 60 per cent

are national non-governmental organizations. As of 8 December, more than 420 organizations have active ongoing projects,

and 250 are planning activities. More than half of humanitarian organizations are focusing their response on food assistance

and livelihood support. Almost 200 partners have provided services related to health to 9.2 million people since the start of

the war, ensuring that people have access to essential health care across the country. Some 160 partners have been

working to provide shelter kits, beds and supporting items, heating solutions, building materials and various sorts of repairs

to those who lost their homes or have been internally displaced, especially with repairs and essential items during the cold

weather and heavy snow. Since the start of the war, they have reached more than 2.7 million so far.

To meet the growing needs for heating and power amid the energy crisis, humanitarian partners are delivering generators to

hospitals, schools, heating points and collective centres. Some 770 generators have been delivered or are being installed,

while at least 2,300 more have been procured or are on their way to Ukraine.

Inter-agency convoys also continued to deliver assistance in areas close to the front lines. During the last two weeks, two

inter-agency convoys delivered food, water and other essential items to help people cope with worsening winter conditions

in Khersonska oblast. On 1 December, humanitarians brought solar lamps, medical and hygiene kits, emergency shelter

items and other winter support supplies to 20,000 in Chornobaivka and Bilozerka hromadas. And on 7 December, five trucks

of aid reached the village of Dariivka, on the outskirts of Kherson city, and delivered hygiene kits, mattresses, solar lamps,

Source: OCHA Ukraine: Situation Report, 19 Dec 2022

HOLY FATHER ON UKRAINE

URBI ET ORBI - December 25, 2022

Let us also see the faces of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are experiencing this Christmas in the dark and cold, far from their homes due to the devastation caused by ten months of war. May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering, and may he enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war! Tragically, we prefer to heed other counsels, dictated by worldly ways of thinking. Yet who is listening to the voice of the Child?

On this day, as we sit around a well-spread table, may we not avert our gaze from Bethlehem, a town whose name means “house of bread, but think of all those, especially children, who go hungry while huge amounts of food daily go to waste and resources are being spent on weapons. The war in Ukraine has further aggravated this situation, putting entire peoples at risk of famine, especially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa. We know that every war causes hunger and exploits food as a weapon, hindering its distribution to people already suffering. On this day, let us learn from the Prince of Peace and, starting with those who hold political responsibilities, commit ourselves to making food solely an instrument of peace. And as we enjoy gathering with our loved ones, let us think of families that experience great hardship and those that, in this time of economic crisis, are struggling as a result of unemployment and lacking in the necessities of life.

Il nostro sguardo si riempia dei volti dei fratelli e delle sorelle ucraini, che vivono questo Natale al buio, al freddo o lontano dalle proprie case, a causa della distruzione causata da dieci mesi di guerra. Il Signore ci renda pronti a gesti concreti di solidarietà per aiutare quanti stanno soffrendo, e illumini le menti di chi ha il potere di far tacere le armi e porre fine subito a questa guerra insensata! Purtroppo, si preferisce ascoltare altre ragioni, dettate dalle logiche del mondo. Ma la voce del Bambino, chi l’ascolta?

In questo giorno, nel quale è bello ritrovarsi attorno alla tavola imbandita, non distogliamo lo sguardo da Betlemme, che significa “casa del pane”, e pensiamo alle persone che patiscono la fame, soprattutto bambini, mentre ogni giorno grandi quantità di alimenti vengono sprecate e si spendono risorse per le armi. La guerra in Ucraina ha ulteriormente aggravato la situazione, lasciando intere popolazioni a rischio di carestia, specialmente in Afghanistan e nei Paesi del Corno d’Africa. Ogni guerra – lo sappiamo – provoca fame e sfrutta il cibo stesso come arma, impedendone la distribuzione a popolazioni già sofferenti. In questo giorno, imparando dal Principe della pace, impegniamoci tutti, per primi quanti hanno responsabilità politiche, perché il cibo sia solo strumento di pace. Mentre gustiamo la gioia di ritrovarci con i nostri, pensiamo alle famiglie che sono più ferite dalla vita, e a quelle che, in questo tempo di crisi economica, fanno fatica a causa della disoccupazione e mancano del necessario per vivere.

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General Audience - December 21, 2022

E poi, pensiamo – parlando del Bambino Gesù – ai tanti bambini dell’Ucraina che soffrono, soffrono tanto, per questa guerra. In questa festa di Dio che si fa bambino, pensiamo ai bambini ucraini. Quando li ho trovati qui, la maggioranza non riesce a sorridere e quando un bambino perde la capacità di sorridere, è grave. Questi bambini portano su di sé la tragedia di quella guerra che è così inumana, così dura. Pensiamo al popolo ucraino, in questo Natale: senza luce, senza riscaldamento, senza le cose principali per sopravvivere, e preghiamo il Signore perché porti loro la pace il più presto possibile.

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Angelus - December 18, 2022

Let us ask the Virgin Mary, whom the liturgy invites us to contemplate on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, to touch the hearts of those who can stop the war in Ukraine. Let us not forget the suffering of those people, especially of the babies, the elderly, the people who are sick. Let us pray. Let us pray.

Alla Vergine Maria, che la liturgia ci invita a contemplare in questa quarta domenica di Avvento, chiediamo di toccare i cuori di quanti possono fermare la guerra in Ucraina. Non dimentichiamo la sofferenza di quel popolo, specialmente dei bambini, degli anziani, delle persone malate. Preghiamo, preghiamo!

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