Post by : Bianca
Haleem
In a significant escalation, Russia launched one of its most extensive winter offensives on Ukraine's energy infrastructure early Saturday, leading to major power outages and heating failures nationwide. Explosions rocked Kyiv overnight, leaving over 1.2 million residences and buildings in darkness, as officials reported.
The situation in Kyiv is dire, with nearly 6,000 structures lacking heating amidst plunging temperatures of -10°C, exacerbating hardships for citizens already grappling with previous strikes on the city’s heating systems.
Kyiv’s Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed one fatality and four injuries in the capital, with Kharkiv reporting 19 injured, including a child.
Ukrainian officials indicated that more than 800,000 homes in Kyiv and 400,000 in the Chernihiv region lost power following the bombardment. The air force reported that Russia unleashed 375 drones and 21 missiles, including the rare Tsirkon ballistic type, during the overnight attack.
This operation marks the most intense winter assault on Ukraine’s power grid, which has faced continuous targeting since the conflict erupted in 2022. Millions of Ukrainians currently endure power outages lasting several hours daily, with many regions left without heating and water.
Interestingly, these strikes coincided with U.S.-facilitated peace discussions in Abu Dhabi, where representatives from Russia and Ukraine are exploring the potential for a ceasefire. However, no significant breakthroughs or agreements have emerged from the talks thus far.
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