Russia and Ukraine engage in tit-for-tat attacks, leaving millions without electricity

Approximately 450,000 residents in Russia’s Belgorod region are currently without electricity, according to regional authorities. In Ukraine, around 150,000 consumers in the city of Chernihiv and surrounding areas have experienced power outages due to damage to an energy facility.

The Ukrainian government has confirmed that repair work will commence as soon as it is safe to do so. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated that the power outage affected multiple districts, including the regional capital, with some residents also experiencing disruptions to heating and water supply. The temperature in Belgorod is around 0C (32F).

Belgorod has been a frequent target of Ukrainian drone and missile attacks since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014. In Ukraine’s southern region of Odesa, Russian attacks on Tuesday resulted in one fatality and another injury, with damage to a private residence and six nearby buildings.

In Russia, officials reported that a Ukrainian drone attack targeting the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga sparked a fire at the facility. The governor of Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, stated that the fire is being brought under control and no casualties have been reported. Ukraine has increased its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and export routes in recent weeks.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, 389 Ukrainian drones were shot down across the country overnight, including over the Moscow region. A drone from neighboring Latvia crashed in the country. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both countries engaging in tit-for-tat attacks on each other’s energy facilities.

Source: Al Jazeera