Europe’s deadly heatwave scorches eastern flank, takes aim at Ukraine
A record-breaking heatwave is sweeping across Europe, causing over 1,300 excess deaths and straining infrastructure in countries like Germany, Poland, and Ukraine. Scientists attribute the severity of the event to climate change, noting it would have been nearly impossible without it.
Why it matters
The event underscores the increasing vulnerability of European infrastructure to extreme weather events driven by global climate change.
The most severe heatwave ever recorded in Europe roasted central and eastern parts of the continent on Monday (June 29, 2026) and began to creep over Ukraine, which scrambled to prepare its war-ravaged power grid for the shock of scorching heat.
The article relies on scientific consensus and official reports to describe the impact of the heatwave.
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