Post by : Meena Ariff

Over one million residents in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region were left without heating and water supplies following intense Russian strikes on critical energy infrastructure, a Ukrainian official reported on Thursday. The attacks come as temperatures in the region have fallen below freezing, heightening concerns over the welfare of the civilian population.

Russian forces have once again intensified their assault on Ukraine’s energy facilities this winter, continuing a pattern seen in previous years where energy sites are deliberately targeted to disrupt heating and water services. Kyiv and its international allies have condemned these actions as a calculated effort to wear down the civilian population by creating harsh living conditions during the cold months.

In addition to Dnipropetrovsk, the Zaporizhzhia region experienced widespread power outages after a large-scale drone attack by Russian forces. According to Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state grid operator, the assault caused thousands of residents to lose electricity and heating late Wednesday.

Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s Minister for Restoration, confirmed that repair efforts are underway to restore heating and water supply for the affected population in Dnipropetrovsk, emphasizing the urgent need to bring relief to over one million subscribers impacted by the outages.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched an attack using 97 drones, of which Ukraine’s air defenses successfully intercepted 70. However, 27 drones managed to strike various locations, causing significant damage to vital infrastructure.

Vladyslav Gaivanenko, the military head of the Dnipropetrovsk region, described the situation as “difficult” but assured that energy workers will begin restoration work as soon as it is safe to do so. Meanwhile, in Zaporizhzhia, electricity has been partially restored to key facilities, but most residents remain without power, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

In response to Russia’s ongoing targeting of its energy grid, Kyiv has carried out strikes against Russian oil depots and refineries. These counterattacks aim to disrupt Moscow’s energy exports and create fuel shortages to weaken Russian military capabilities.

The continued attacks on energy infrastructure not only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis amid harsh winter conditions but also underscore the escalating intensity of the conflict and its profound impact on civilian life in Ukraine.

#Global News