Post by : Rameen Ariff

Kyiv: Russia’s relentless campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure escalated Thursday, as coordinated drone and missile strikes plunged regions across the country into widespread blackouts. Officials described the attacks as “systematic energy terror,” aimed at crippling Ukrainian cities ahead of the bitter winter months.

The strikes, targeting critical energy facilities in multiple regions, killed at least two people and injured 17 others, including children aged 2 to 16, Ukrainian authorities reported. Among the worst-hit areas, the southern Zaporizhzhia region saw multiple casualties, with rescuers retrieving victims from collapsed buildings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia launched over 650 drones and more than 50 missiles of various types during the latest assault. These attacks have repeatedly targeted electricity grids, heating systems, and water infrastructure, creating immense hardships for civilians relying on centralised public services.

“Russia continues its systematic energy terror—striking at the lives, dignity, and warmth of Ukrainians on the eve of winter,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said. “Its goal is to plunge Ukraine into darkness; ours is to keep the light on.” She called for more air defence systems, stronger sanctions, and maximum international pressure on Moscow to halt these attacks.

In the western Lviv region, near the Polish border, two energy infrastructure facilities were damaged, disrupting power and utilities. Polish authorities temporarily closed regional airports in Radom and Lublin and scrambled NATO aircraft as a precautionary measure in response to the Russian offensive.

The ongoing campaign, now nearly four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, continues to test the resilience of the nation’s energy systems while aiming to weaken civilian morale. Despite repeated strikes, Ukrainian authorities and local communities are working tirelessly to restore electricity, heating, and water supplies, determined to withstand Moscow’s winter assault.

This latest wave of Russian drone and missile strikes underscores the strategic targeting of Ukraine’s energy networks, highlighting the ongoing human cost and the critical need for international support amid escalating winter threats.

#world news #Global News