Bombing of Ukraine's energy system to trigger new emigration wave – NGO leader

VILNIUS – Russian bombing of Ukraine's energy infrastructure will trigger a new wave of Ukrainian emigration as winter will approach, Olha Aivazovska, chairwoman of the board of the Opora NGO, said on Monday. 

"We want to share analytical data on how Russia is currently concentrated on shelling Ukraine's energy system and how these events in 2022-2023 led to the loss of almost 2 million Ukrainian residents," Aivazovska told LRT Radio on Monday morning. 

"The situation of Ukraine's energy system in Ukraine is so bad now; that there aren't enough funds for repairs and upgrades," she said. "We believe that people will have to leave again because living in Ukraine will be difficult."

Aivazovska was speaking ahead of public hearings for survivors of Russia's war against Ukraine, which will be hosted by the Lithuanian parliament later on Monday.

The activist noted that the International Criminal Court in The Hague last month issued arrest warrants for two high-ranking Russian military officials – Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov – on suspicion of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the winter 2022-23 bombardment of Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. 

However, she added, large-scale Russian bombing of Ukraine's energy infrastructure resumed last month.  

In the event entitled "Echoes of Tragedy: Civilian and Child Testimonies on the Russia's War Against Ukraine", people will share first-hand testimonies and memories of their experiences of occupation and deportation.

"This event seeks to shed light on the devastating impact of the war, particularly focusing on the personal experiences of civilians and children, as well as to discuss the possible avenues of legal and political accountability for the war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine," the organizers have said. 

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured in more than two years of fighting.