Ukraine warns people to expect longer power cuts due to continued Russian attack on Ukraine energy infrastructure
The Ukrainian authorities have warned the people of Kyiv to expect longer power cuts, lasting more than 4 hours, because of continuous Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
Russia is using dozens of Iran made missiles and drones to target Ukraine. Kyiv has lost 30% of its power capacity. The blackouts are also affecting the power supply in central regions of Ukraine, including the city of Dnipro.
The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that despite more than 4 million people being affected due to power cuts, Ukraine will not break down. He also said that about 1/3rd of Ukraine’s electric power stations have been destroyed.
One of the power plants had twice been targeted by missiles and then by an Iranian-made “Kamikaze” drone. Repairs had been under way for more than 2 weeks but there are difficulties as the equipment that has been damaged is unique and it’s hard to find the same parts”.
The power cuts have also resulted into curbs on the use of streetlights and electric-powered public transport, besides the discomfort in people’s homes. The European Union (E.U.) and other allies of Ukraine have condemned the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Other cities that are experiencing power cuts include Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Poltava and Chernihiv. Russia stepped up its missile attacks on Ukraine’s power stations and other civilian infrastructure in retaliation for the October 9, 2022, bombing of the Crimean Bridge.
.
In other developments, the Russian-installed Governor of Sevastopol – Mikhail Razvozhayev said that Russian naval forces had repelled a drone attack in waters off the port city. He said no facilities in the city, the largest in annexed Crimea and HQ of Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet, had been hit. Ukraine has not acknowledged the incident.
Russia also sad that it has mobilised 300,000 reservists – the target number set by Defence Minister – Sergei Shoigu. He said 41,000 of those called up had already been deployed to the battlefield in Ukraine.
Russia has also moved thousands of civilians out of occupied Kherson, ahead of an expected battle with Ukrainian forces for the strategic Southern city. Zelenskyy has accused Russia of dismantling medical facilities in Kherson and pressurising doctors to move to Russia.
Chechen Leader and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin – Ramzan Kadyrov admitted that a Chechen unit had suffered big losses with 23 fighters being killed and 58 wounded in a Ukrainian artillery attack.
Besides, the Secretary General of the United Nations (U.N.) – Antonio Guterres has urged all parties to renew the grain export deal, which is due to expire in November 2022. The deal Allowed Ukraine to export larger quantities of wheat and foodgrain across the globe from Black Sea which got suspended for months after Russia invaded Ukraine. next month. Russia has suggested it might not renew the deal.
