Russian forces hammered energy infrastructure around Kyiv overnight, straining the capital’s power, water and heating supplies as temperatures head towards zero, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.
Explosions rocked the city three days before Russia and Ukraine are due to take part in US-brokered talks, as Moscow unleashed waves of ballistic missiles. Several hit and damaged the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro River, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones at Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight, and that only four of the missiles were intercepted. He said some of the missiles were North Korean-made and hit an important energy facility.
Strikes on energy facilities outside Kyiv, including systems that send power from two nuclear plants to the city and Ukraine’s central regions, caused serious damage, the energy ministry said. Substations in five other regions were also hit. “The capital is facing serious difficulties with its electricity, water, and heat supplies,” Zelenskyy said.
At least two people were killed and around a dozen others wounded across Ukraine in the overnight attacks, which also damaged homes, businesses and other buildings, authorities said.
Russia’s defence ministry said it struck targets in Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, as well as energy and transport infrastructure in and around Kyiv. Ukraine also carried out drone and missile attacks on several Russian regions, causing minor damage but no casualties, Russian authorities said.
Ukrainian and Russian officials are due to take part in three-way talks in Abu Dhabi from Tuesday to Wednesday as part of a US-backed peace push. It will be the first trilateral meeting since February.
Source: Channel NewsAsia (Reuters) — https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/russia-pounds-power-facilities-around-kyiv-damages-major-bridge-6533046
