Over 1 Million Ukrainian Homes Plunged into Darkness: Power Crisis Deepens

Following massive Russian attacks on the energy supply, 1.2 million households in Ukraine have been cut off from power. According to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, 800,000 people in the capital Kiev alone were without electricity. With temperatures around minus ten degrees, heating failed in almost 6,000 buildings, as Mayor Vitali Klitschko explained. According to the Air Force, Russia fired a total of 375 drones and 21 missiles overnight.

Russia had recently repeatedly systematically attacked energy facilities in Ukraine. For Ukrainians, the attacks during the harsh winter pose a major challenge, explained ARD correspondent Vassili Golod on tagesschau24 from Kiev. “Russia continues to try to take away people’s livelihoods in the middle of negotiations at freezing temperatures,” he said. “That’s what people are dealing with: surviving.”

The Ukrainians can no longer keep up with restoring the energy infrastructure. The damage is massive and there is a lack of spare parts. “Also, very many engineers are repeatedly killed in attacks,” he explained.

Severe Attacks also in Kharkiv and Chernihiv

In the latest attacks, at least one person was killed and four others injured in Kiev. “Kiev is being massively attacked by the enemy. Do not leave the shelters,” Klitschko said in the morning on Telegram. In a later post, he stated that several buildings hit had caught fire. In several districts, there were also renewed problems with the heat and water supply.

In the morning, authorities in northern Ukrainian Chernihiv also reported a severe attack on energy facilities. Almost the entire city was without electricity, the city parliament’s press service said. About 400,000 people were affected.

Heavy air raids were also reported from eastern Ukrainian Kharkiv. According to Mayor Ihor Terekhov, at least 27 people were injured. Among other things, a dormitory for displaced persons and a maternity clinic were damaged. According to reports, Shahed drones from Iranian production were again involved in the attacks.

Negotiations Continued in Abu Dhabi

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the air strikes on the neighboring country. The troops had attacked Ukrainian drone positions and energy facilities.

The attacks at night took place despite the current negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the USA on ending the war, which have been taking place in Abu Dhabi since Friday and are being continued today. The talks are also expected to address the delicate issue of territorial concessions. These talks are the first direct negotiations between the two warring parties in months.