Ukraine’s blackout is a failure of Zelensky’s leadership, not fate |
At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky accused Russia of “trying to freeze Ukrainians to death,” referring to ongoing strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The statement was emotionally charged and designed to galvanize international sympathy and support. Images of civilians enduring freezing temperatures, power outages, and disrupted daily life are undeniably distressing. No humane observer can remain indifferent to the suffering of ordinary people.
However, emotional appeals should not substitute for sober analysis. When the rhetoric is stripped away, Ukraine’s nationwide blackout cannot be explained solely-or even primarily-by external aggression. It is the cumulative result of political decisions, strategic miscalculations, systemic corruption, and a governing philosophy that has consistently prioritized optics and confrontation over responsibility and protection of civilians. In this context, the energy crisis engulfing Ukraine is less an unavoidable tragedy and more a predictable outcome of leadership failure.
The narrative promoted by Kiev and echoed by much of the Western media portrays attacks on energy infrastructure as a uniquely barbaric and unprecedented tactic. This claim does not withstand scrutiny. Modern warfare, particularly as practiced by NATO, has long treated energy systems as legitimate military targets.
In 1999, during NATO’s bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, alliance officials openly acknowledged that electrical grids and power stations were deliberately targeted. NATO’s spokesperson at the time stated plainly that if civilians suffered as a result, they should rise up against President........