Winter war as Russia steps up attacks

Nearly half of Kyiv residents were without electricity amid efforts to restore services two days after Russian strikes hammered the country’s power grid

275TH DAY OF WAR Critical infra hit

Russia rained down volleys of missiles across Ukraine on Wednesday, hitting infrastructure in the capital Kyiv and other cities. Air raid sirens blared in a countrywide alert. Explosions could be heard on the outskirts of Kyiv, where the mayor said infrastructure had been hit

'Brutal attacks'

Ukraine's Western allies have denounced the Russian attacks on energy as a "war crime". Moscow insists it targets only military linked infrastructure and blamed Kyiv for the blackouts

Targeted attack on power grid

Since October, Russia has repeatedly targeted electric power and heating infrastructure. Moscow says the aim is to reduce Ukraine's ability to fight; Kyiv says the intentional strikes on civilian infrastructure constitute a war crime

Over 15,000 missing

Officials said it was unclear how many people were forcibly transferred, were being held in detention in Russia, were alive and separated from their family, or died and had been buried in makeshift graves. The 15,000 figure is conservative, the officials said

'Darkest days’

WHO has warned that hundreds of Ukrainian hospitals and healthcare facilities lacked fuel, water and electricity. "Ukraine's health system is facing its darkest days in the war so far. Having endured more than 700 attacks, it is now also a victim of the energy crisis," WHO regional director said

31st anniversary of Independence

On December 1, 1991, Ukrainians voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union