Kremlin TV Mocks Ukrainian Suffering: "Let Them Freeze"

Russian state television has openly celebrated attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, blaming Kyiv for the resulting civilian hardship. A recent broadcast on the channel *Russia 1* featured a panelist stating, "Let them freeze," in reference to Ukrainians enduring power cuts. The segment used a distorted interpretation of a *New York Times* article to falsely claim that Ukrainian citizens want their government to surrender. The broadcast is part of a wider propaganda effort. Kremlin-aligned media are framing the energy crisis—caused by Russian missile and drone strikes—as Ukraine's own fault. This narrative aims to justify the attacks, which have left millions without heat and electricity during winter. International organizations condemn the targeting of energy systems as a severe violation of humanitarian law. The attacks are seen as a tactic to break Ukrainian morale.