Kyiv is experiencing widespread power outages following a recent Russian aerial assault targeting energy infrastructure. The strikes have left a significant portion of the capital without electricity amidst freezing temperatures.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that over a million households in Kyiv are without power. He also noted that more than 4,000 residential buildings are without heating. Temperatures have plummeted to as low as -14 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the situation.
According to Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko, districts on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River are also facing water supply disruptions.
In response, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the strikes, asserting they were a retaliation for alleged Ukrainian attacks on civilian infrastructure within Russian territory. The ministry stated its forces conducted a “massive strike” using precision-guided, long-range weapons launched from both land and air.
The Russian statement further indicated that the strikes targeted Ukrainian defense industries, energy facilities, transport infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces, and storage sites for ammunition and long-range drones.
Reports indicate the assault began with long-range combat drones, followed by ballistic missile launches towards Kyiv and its surrounding areas. Air raid sirens sounded for over six hours.
The attacks resulted in at least one fatality in the capital’s suburbs. The Kyiv metro system experienced disruptions, and the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was briefly disconnected from the grid before being reconnected.
The situation remains tense as authorities work to restore power and essential services to the affected areas. The extent of the long-term damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is still being assessed.
