Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been significantly affected by large-scale Russian attacks, leaving more than one million people without electricity. According to Energy Minister German Galushchenko, the attacks targeted energy facilities throughout the country.
Ukrainian Cities Are Affected By Widespread Damage
Explosions were heard on Thursday morning in Odesa, Kropyvnytskyi, Kharkiv, Rivne and Lutsk. Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko has asked residents to remain in shelters due to the activation of air defense systems in an effort to repel all attacks. Missile strikes hit the Shostka community of the Sumy region as well, according to local authorities. In Kharkiv, three missile strikes hit the Kyiv district, but no casualties were reported. Residential areas in Kyiv and Kharkiv were affected and added to the destruction.
Blackouts in Freezing Temperatures
There were major attacks that have brought areas like Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Donetsk under blackouts amid 0°C (32°F). Yasno energy supplier's CEO Sergey Kovalenko mentioned that the state was witnessing nationwide emergency blackouts without an immediate end in near sight. More than 523,000 subscribers in the Lviv region lost power, while 280,000 were affected in Rivne and 215,000 in Volyn. According to the Ministry of Energy, this is the 11th major attack on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure this year.
Russia's Escalation and Ukraine's Response
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that 17 objects were struck during the overnight strikes that involved 90 missiles and 100 drones. The targeted military facilities, defense industry sites, and infrastructure in Kyiv were reportedly hit. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of using cluster munitions in the attacks, terming it an "escalation of terrorist tactics." Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office, criticized Russia's "terror tactics," emphasizing the harsh impact on civilians during the cold winter months.
Inputs by Agencies
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