Blackouts across Ukraine and Moldova after new strikes
Russian strategy targets critical infrastructure, weaponising winter
Authorities reported power outages in multiple cities of Ukraine, including parts of Kyiv, and in neighbouring Moldova after renewed strikes on Wednesday struck Ukrainian facilities.
Multiple regions reported attacks in quick succession, suggesting a barrage of strikes. In several regions, authorities reported strikes on critical infrastructure.
The Kyiv city administration said that three people were dead and three wounded in the capital after a Russian strike hit a two-storey building.
Russia has been pounding the power grid and other facilities with missiles and exploding drones for weeks, seemingly aiming to turn the cold and dark of winter into a weapon.
Water supply dries up
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that “one of the capital’s infrastructure facilities has been hit” and there were “several more explosions in different districts” of the city. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the explosions were caused by air defence systems at work or Russian projectiles hitting targets. He said water supplies were knocked out in all of Kyiv.
There were power outages in parts of Kyiv, in Kharkiv, Lviv and in Odesa region.
In Moldova, Infrastructure
Minister Andrei Spinu said that “we have massive power outages across the country”.
The Kyiv region is now without electricity, according to governor Oleksiy Kuleba. Stateowned grid operator Ukrenergo said Russia’s missile attack was continuing, but there were already emergency shutdowns in all regions.
“This is a necessary step to protect power grids from additional technological accidents and support the operation of the power system,” Ukrenergo said.
Russia has been pounding Ukraine’s power grid and other facilities with missiles and exploding drones for weeks.