Zelenskyy Threatens Russia With “General Winter” Over Attacks on Ukraine’s Energy System

Reform.news Editorial Team · 23 September 2026, 22:20

https://reform.news/en/zelenskyy-threatens-russia-with-general-winter-over-attacks-on-ukraine-s-energy-system/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, said Russia could face consequences in winter if it continues to strike Ukraine’s energy system and heating infrastructure.

“Just think about it. No Russian official ever imagined that Army General Winter, which had fought on Russia’s side for centuries, would one day switch sides and support those defending themselves from Russia. We will make that happen this winter if Russia continues to target our energy system and our heating”, he said.

He also said that since the beginning of 2026, Russia had used more than 2,100 missiles of various types against Ukraine, including more than 950 ballistic missiles. According to him, over eight months, Russian forces used about 63,000 attack drones, more than 7,700 of which were jet-powered Shaheds.

“And this is about, finally, slowing down the rapid development of weapons for killing, a process that has continued throughout this war and has already become a global threat. We need to slow it down before we reach the next stage. Because as early as next year, there is already a real possibility that AI, not only people, will begin, will begin decide what happens on the battlefield. And we need peace before we reach that point”, the Ukrainian leader said.

He also said that from January to August, the Russian army lost 248,964 people on the battlefield in Ukraine, including those killed and seriously wounded.