Russia launched a series of attacks on Ukraine with drones and ballistic missiles, causing severe damage to the energy infrastructure and leaving many residents in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa without essential services such as heat, electricity, and water, according to officials.
The assaults on Ukraine’s power grid have escalated during the winter season, resulting in extended periods of cold and darkness in major cities amid freezing temperatures.
In Kyiv, approximately 3,500 apartment buildings lost heating following the recent strike that affected nearly 2,600 high-rises, in addition to the 1,100 buildings previously impacted by similar attacks, revealed Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Over 100,000 families experienced power outages, as confirmed by private energy company DTEK, which reported that one of its thermal power plants was targeted, although the specific location was not disclosed.
Kyiv Mayor Klitschko mentioned that two individuals sustained injuries in the attack on the city, which also damaged a residential structure.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a total of 24 ballistic missiles, one cruise missile, and 219 drones overnight, with air defenses successfully intercepting or disabling 16 missiles and 197 drones.
Approximately 300,000 people in Odesa were left without water due to the assault disrupting power supply, stated Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, who also noted that nearly 200 buildings in the port city were deprived of heating.
The attack in Odesa also resulted in damage to an apartment building and sparked a fire at one of the city’s markets, injuring an individual, according to Military administration chief Serhiy Lysak.
In Dnipro, a coordinated missile and drone strike wounded four individuals, including a baby boy and a four-year-old girl, as reported by regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha on Telegram.
Tragically, two people lost their lives and six others were injured in an attack on the Lozova railway hub in the Kharkiv region bordering Russia, as confirmed by prosecutors.
Despite Moscow’s denial of deliberately targeting civilians, thousands have been killed in the conflict since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine has also conducted attacks on civilian sites in Russia or Russian-occupied territories, albeit on a smaller scale.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized the assault, asserting that it undermines peace efforts led by US President Donald Trump to end the prolonged conflict.
Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the US have not yet resolved key disputes, with Moscow continuing its offensive actions and assaults on Ukrainian cities.
Sybiha emphasized the detrimental impact of each attack on peace endeavors and urged Russia to engage seriously in diplomatic efforts and de-escalate the situation.