Ukrainians survived this winter thanks to the government’s efforts to ensure the country’s energy sufficiency, but the Russian threat to the country’s infrastructure has not been eliminated, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a videotaped address tonight.

March 1 marks the end of the winter season in Ukraine, as in Russia, although temperatures remain low.

“Winter has come to an end. It was very difficult and every Ukrainian, without exaggeration, felt the consequences,” Zelensky said. “We managed to guarantee the supply of energy and heating. But the threat to the energy grid remains. And efforts are ongoing to ensure that it continues to operate,” he added.

In recent months, Russian forces have launched missile attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine in order to demoralize the population.

Human rights organizations emphasize that attacks on energy infrastructure have a significant impact on the civilian population, and some believe they should be classified as “war crimes” and investigated.

Referring to the developments on the eastern front, where Russian troops have been advanced near the strategically important city of Bakhmut, President Zelenskiy asserted that Ukrainian forces remain in control of the situation. But he added that the residents of the areas near the battlefields are suffering from the Russian attacks. “Russia is constantly trying to destroy everything these people have – and that’s not an exaggeration,” he said.

The Ukrainian army is struggling to guarantee the safety of residents enduring repeated Russian attacks, he said, explaining that “every promotion of our flag will increase the safety of our people.”