Germany forecasts an increase in Ukrainian refugees in the coming weeks

© Provided by News 360 Archive - Fire at a refugee center in Germany - Jens Büttner/dpa

The German government anticipates a further spike in Ukrainian refugees in the coming weeks as frosts spread through Kiev-controlled areas in the west of the country.

The German ambassador to the UK, Miguel Berger, has charged that Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy supply will eventually force a new exodus of people because of freezing temperatures, he told Sky News.

"We expect new arrivals from the next few weeks," the diplomat confirmed.

One million Ukrainians have fled to Germany since the start of the war, according to the latest figures, amid huge social pressure: authorities recorded 65 attacks on refugee accommodation so far this year, a significant increase on 2021.

A recent survey by national broadcaster ARD concluded that concerns about immigration had increased in the past year among the German population: 53 percent of respondents were worried about too many people arriving in Germany, up 11 percent from September 2021.

Residents of the capital, Kiev, claim that during the last few weeks they have been without electricity for up to 33 hours at a time, according to the British network.

"I can put my things outside and they freeze at any time. This is the 21st century, here, in a European capital. This is the winter we have to go through," lamented resident Ilias Verdiev.