The Ukrainian capital was plunged into darkness early yesterday by what the Ukrainian air force called a “massive attack,” as Russia pummeled Kyiv’s infrastructure, cutting off water and energy supplies.
The Kremlin has escalated aerial attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities and rail systems over recent weeks, mirroring similar campaigns launched over the previous three winters that left people without heating in frigid temperatures.
Agence France-Presse journalists in Kyiv heard several powerful explosions yesterday and experienced blackouts at their homes across different districts of the city.
Photo: Bloomberg
“The capital of the country is under an enemy ballistic missile attack and a massive attack by the enemy strike drones,” the Ukrainian air force said, urging people in Kyiv to remain in shelters.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Russian forces had targeted “critical infrastructure” and wounded at least nine people, five of whom were taken to hospital.
“The left bank of the capital is without electricity. There are also problems with water supply,” Klitschko said on Telegram.
Ukrainian Minister of Energy Svitlana Grynchuk said Russian forces were “inflicting a massive strike” on the grid.
“Energy workers are taking all necessary measures to minimize the negative consequences,” Grynchuk wrote on Facebook.
“As soon as security conditions allow, energy workers will begin clarifying the consequences of the attack and restoration work,” she said.
Fearing an incoming hypersonic Kinzhal missile — which are harder to detect and intercept — Ukraine put the entire country on alert yesterday. Russia also hit the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia with at least seven overnight drone strikes, killing a seven-year-old and wounding at least three people, Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov said.
‘CREATE CHAOS’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Moscow was seeking to “create chaos and apply psychological pressure” through crippling energy facilities and railways.
Russian attacks this year have already strained Ukrainian gas infrastructure, and more strikes could force his country to ramp up imports, Zelenskiy said.
Ukraine has also stepped up its drone and missile strikes on Russian territory, a tactic that Zelenskiy said was showing “results” and pushing up fuel prices in Russia.
A Ukrainian hit on a power station in the Russian border region of Belgorod also caused power outages.
Russia on Thursday said Ukraine ruptured a now-defunct pipeline near the front line used to transport ammonia into Ukraine for export, releasing toxic gas.
It posted a video online showing what appeared to be clouds of a chemical compound spewing from a source in the ground.
Authorities in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region said the incident did not present a “menace to the lives of people” living nearby.
FRONTLINE EVACUATIONS
Citing a recent uptick in Russian drone attacks, Ukrainian authorities ordered the evacuation of children and their guardians from Kramatorsk, the largest civilian hub in the Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control.
In Sloviansk, another Donbas city under Ukrainian control, Sloviansk Mayor Vadym Liakh recently advised children and elderly people to leave, citing incessant attacks on the energy system.
Ukrainian authorities said Russia is increasingly deploying small, cheap first-person-view drones that have dramatically changed the character of fighting across the sprawling front line over recent months.
A Ukrainian delegation led by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is expected to visit the US early next week to discuss, among other topics, energy and air defense under intensifying Russian strikes.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Washington and NATO allies were “stepping up the pressure” to end the war in Ukraine, although his attempts to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin have so far failed to achieve a ceasefire.
Trump hosted Putin in Alaska in August, after which Russia’s attacks on Ukraine escalated.
Russia said this week that momentum toward a peace deal had largely vanished.
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