Russian missiles target Ukraine's infrastructure leaving cities, including Kyiv, without water or electricity
KYIV, UKRAINE: After Russia launched another missile attack on key cities, the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv was left with a severe water shortage and was also without power. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, claimed that 80% of his city is now without water and that 350,000 houses are without electricity as a result of Russian cruise missiles striking important infrastructure locations. Eyewitnesses have also reported five explosions.
The northern city of Kharkiv, the central cities of Dnipro and Cherkasy, as well as the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, were all affected, resulting in power outages, according to the Daily Mail. Klitschko further explained how one of the strikes damaged a power plant that supplied 350,000 residences in the capital with electricity. He said that emergency personnel were working to restore power and "stabilise the situation as quickly as possible."
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Russian strategic bombers launched more than 50 cruise missiles, 44 of which were intercepted, according to Kyiv's commanders. It occured two days after drones carrying explosives damaged Russia's Black Sea navy in an incident that Ukraine was held responsible for.
The series of attacks follows a claim by Russia that Ukraine attacked the Crimean city of Sevastopol over the weekend. The Ukrainian peninsula was illegitimately acquired by Russia in 2014, and since then, it has been under their jurisdiction. Klitschko has advised citizens of the capital to stock up on water from stores and pumping facilities. In an effort to keep Ukrainians inside their homes as winter approaches, Russia has begun attacking civilian infrastructure, including water and electrical supply. Moscow appears to be targeting civilians in order to weaken their resolve to carry out the war after suffering setbacks on the battlefield, as per the report.
The strikes come after Russia withdrew from a grain deal mediated by the UN that was seen as crucial to easing the world food shortfall. Ukraine has charged Russia with fabricating "false terrorist incidents" and using the agreement as "blackmail." Moscow later withdrew its backing for grain shipments leaving Ukrainian ports and entering international markets, claiming it could "no longer guarantee" their safety.
The Black Sea grain trade is "risky" and "hazardous," according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, if Russia cannot ensure the safety of passage. When asked if the grain deal could go forward without Russia's involvement, Peskov responded that it "is hardly practicable" without Russia ensuring navigation safety in those areas, the report claimed.