Russian missile strikes knock out power, water in Kyiv region

KYIV, Ukraine: Russian strikes across Ukraine on Wednesday battered the country´s already failing electricity grid, leaving several dead, disconnecting three nuclear power stations from the grid and spurring “massive” blackouts in neighbouring Moldova.

The Ukrainian energy system has been left in tatters and millions have been subjected to long periods without electricity after weeks of Russian bombardments, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning the country´s priority this winter would be “survival”.

The Ukrainian military said Russian forces had fired around 70 cruise missiles at targets across the country Wednesday and also deployed attack drones. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the latest salvo as a response to a decision by the European Parliament to recognise Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism” over its nine-month invasion of Ukraine, and its call for the 27-nation EU to follow. “Being unable to win in a fair fight with the Ukrainian army, Russia wages a cowardly war of terror against civilians,” Kuleba said, urging Kyiv´s Western backers to supply more air defence systems.

The strikes Wednesday piled pressure on the Ukrainian grid, disrupting power supplies in southern and eastern regions, with water and electricity cuts in the capital Kyiv. “Three people were killed as a result of today´s rocket attacks on the capital. Among them is a 17-year-old girl,” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram, adding that 11 residents were injured.

AFP reporters at the scene of one strike in Kyiv saw the burnt out remains of two cars and the bodies of two people killed in the blast. Ukrainian police told local media that six people were killed across the country. Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine´s energy infrastructure, causing severe damage to around half of the country´s power facilities.

The WHO has cautioned winter will be “life-threatening” for millions of people as a result. Neighbouring Moldova even said it was suffering widespread blackouts caused by the fresh barrage and its EU-friendly president, Maia Sandu, accused Russia of leaving her country “in the dark”.

In Ukraine´s eastern Donetsk region, Kseniya Cherkashina, 32, blamed Russia for the blackouts that were hitting her city and causing uncertainty. “So far we can cope... but the power and heating is unstable. But I´m worried. I´m not sure what´s going to happen in the future,” she said.