"It's time for everyone to think about where they will be this winter": Chmut warned Ukrainians about an even harsher cold season

In his opinion, the energy sector will not be fully restored in time

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20 Jul 2026

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The head of the “Come Back Alive” foundation Taras Chmut warned that the next winter may prove even more difficult for Ukraine than the previous one. In his view, the country is not managing to properly prepare the energy system for the new season of Russian strikes, so citizens should already, in July, think through their own plan of action.

He said this in an interview with “Ukrainska Pravda“.

According to Taras Chmut, millions of Ukrainians endured last winter extremely hard, and there are currently no grounds to assume the next cold season will be any easier. He ties the risks to internal problems in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a shift in the authorities’ attention from the war to political processes, and limited ability to counter Russian ballistic missiles and new attack drones.

The head of the “Come Back Alive” foundation described the factors that, in his opinion, could derail proper preparations for winter.

“With the conflict in the Armed Forces, with attention focused not on the war but on politics — we will not properly prepare for winter. We cannot effectively counter Russian ballistic missiles. They will amass rocket drones against which the ‘dronopad’ does not work,” says the head of the “Come Back Alive” foundation Taras Chmut.

Taras Chmut also expressed doubt that the energy infrastructure damaged during previous Russian attacks could be fully restored in just half a year. In his view, problems with the power system and a shift in state priorities could make the next winter even harder.

Because of this, the foundation head urged Ukrainians to decide in advance where they would be able to spend the cold season more safely. Among possible options he named temporarily moving to a village, a small town, or abroad.

Taras Chmut emphasized that postponing preparations for the onset of frosts is dangerous.

“I believe that everyone now, in July, should think about where they will be in winter. Maybe someone already needs to consider moving to the countryside, or even abroad,” said Taras Chmut.

Separately, Taras Chmut spoke about the situation at the front and possible plans of the Russian command. In his assessment, the enemy’s “medium difficulty” plan envisages capturing the entire territory of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

He suggests that by the end of 2026 Russian forces will try to push the Defense Forces of Ukraine out of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. The situation near Kostiantynivka, the foundation head called extremely difficult, noting that the city is in a semi-encirclement.

Another goal of the occupiers, according to Taras Chmut, is to advance right up to Zaporizhzhia in order to gain the ability to systematically shell the city with artillery. He warned that the enemy continues to advance on key directions despite significant losses, and without effective resistance will gradually achieve its objectives.

The foundation head also said that Russia seeks to destroy border and frontline Ukrainian cities. Among the main targets of the enemy he named Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

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