How winter weather could give Ukraine or Russia an advantage in war | JUST THE FAQS

As war drags on, winter will present difficulties for both Russia and Ukraine. Here's what the brutal weather means for the conflict.

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Winter comes early in Ukraine, and the Kremlin knows it. As the fighting grinds on, Ukrainians are bracing for winter under historically harsh conditions. Seven months of war have taken a toll on a nation that was Europe's poorest even before Russia's military belligerence damaged or destroyed thousands of residential buildings, schools, hospitals and community buildings.

In recent weeks water systems and energy plants have been the focus of Russian missiles and exploding drones. The collapse of infrastructure has put millions of people at risk of losing access to electricity, water, even shelter, the International Rescue Committee warns. Volodmyr Omelyan, the former Ukraine infrastructure minister, estimates that 40% of the nation's energy sector has been damaged or destroyed. Russia's intent is obvious, he says – force the populace to suffer. Weaken their resolve.

"But Ukraine is too big to fall," Omelyan told USA TODAY. "And Ukrainians understand that if we surrender we will be destroyed." So rolling blackouts have become a way of life in areas that have any power at all. And President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that Russia will do everything it can to break the resistance of Ukraine this winter – "another kind of Russian terrorist attacks, targeting energy & critical infrastructure," Zelenskyy tweeted.

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