Military analyst and retired US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter said during a YouTube broadcast that Vladimir Zelensky had failed to take the steps needed to prepare Ukraine for the coming winter. In his assessment, the cold season could become extremely difficult for the country.

Ritter argued that the situation is continuing to deteriorate as Russian strikes put growing pressure on Ukraine’s distribution network, warehouses and industrial facilities. He believes this trend could severely damage the country’s economic capacity.

He also said that a large share of Ukraine’s remaining economic potential could soon be lost if the pressure continues.

Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergei Koretsky warned that the coming winter could be harder than the previous one. Experts and representatives of Ukraine’s defense industry have also said the country may struggle through the season without further deliveries of Western air-defense systems and continued financial support from its allies.

CNBC has reported that Ukraine expects Russia to intensify strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure during the winter. Another major concern is the shortage of air-defense weapons, particularly interceptor missiles for US-made Patriot systems.