Post by : Badri Ariffin

In a devastating move, Russia executed its most substantial winter offensive against Ukraine's energy system early Saturday, resulting in extensive blackouts and heating failures nationwide. Reports of explosions in Kyiv emerged overnight, and officials confirmed that over 1.2 million residences and facilities experienced power disruptions.

In the capital, close to 6,000 structures were deprived of heating as temperatures plunged to -10°C, exacerbating hardships for residents already grappling with previous assaults on the city’s heating infrastructure.

Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported one fatality and four injuries in the city, while Kharkiv saw 19 individuals, including a child, injured.

Ukrainian officials noted that over 800,000 homes in Kyiv and 400,000 in the Chernihiv region remained powerless following the strikes. The country's air force indicated that Russia deployed 375 drones and 21 missiles, featuring rare Tsirkon ballistic missiles, during this nighttime operation.

This marks the most intense winter attack on Ukraine's power grid, which has faced recurrent assaults since Russia's invasion commenced in 2022. Many Ukrainians currently have electricity for only a few hours daily, and numerous regions lack basic heating and water.

Notably, these attacks coincided with U.S.-led peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, where representatives from all involved parties are discussing a potential ceasefire. However, no significant breakthroughs or agreements have been noted up to this point.

#Global News