Scattered minefields, no electricity: snowstorm complicates war in Ukraine Scattered minefields, no electricity: snowstorm complicates war in Ukraine

The onset of winter also affects Ukraine and has consequences for the conduct of the war. As the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports, the Ukrainian Navy reports that weather in the Black Sea forced Russia to return naval ships and missile carriers to bases.

A cyclone over the Black Sea caused serious damage to infrastructure in southern Ukraine and Russian coastal areas. On Monday, millions of people in the affected areas were without power.

The onset of winter makes warfare more difficult

A Russian military blogger also warned of the danger of mines in the Black Sea to military and civilian ships. The storm tore up nets and spread minefields throughout the northwestern Black Sea. According to ISW, several sources report damage to railway lines that could impact Russian forces in occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine.

Despite the difficult weather, Russian and Ukrainian forces continued their ground attacks, albeit at a slightly slower pace due to poor visibility due to snowfall. As the ISW reports with reference to military bloggers, aerial reconnaissance toward Kherson is more difficult. However, Ukrainian forces took advantage of the poor visibility to consolidate their positions on the eastern (left) bank of the Dnipro River.

According to Ukrainian information, the Russian military has significantly reduced the use of artillery and drones in the direction of Tavriisk, but remains heavily dependent on air strikes. According to ISW estimates, the onset of winter will force both sides to rely more on ground attacks.

Hundreds of thousands without electricity and some without heating

The storm also affects the civilian population. According to the online media “Ukrainskaya Pravda”, a 110-meter-high chimney of a thermal power plant in the port city of Odessa collapsed. Odessa’s thermal power plants will be closed for hours on Sunday. Heavy snowfall was accompanied by flooding in many places. Five people died as a result of the storm in the Odessa region. Another 19 residents were injured, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening speech on Monday.

Last winter, the Russian military increasingly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from the air. The Ukrainian government expects a similar scenario this winter.

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