Ukrainians face severe heating shortages due to Russian military actions

Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure Hit Hard by Russian Strikes

A series of major strikes on critical infrastructure in southeastern Ukraine has left hundreds of thousands without power, heating, or water supplies. The overnight attacks targeted the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk, causing widespread disruptions to essential services.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the strikes aimed to “break” his country, cutting off electricity, heating, and water supplies in the affected areas. Repair crews are working to restore services, but progress is slow.

The Ministry of Energy reported that nearly 800,000 people in Dnipropetrovsk remained without electricity early on Thursday. The Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Oleksii Kuleba, stated that over 1 million people were affected in the region.

Russian forces have intensified their strikes on Ukraine’s energy sites in recent months, with Kyiv and its allies describing this as a deliberate strategy to wear down the civilian population. The fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion is approaching, and tensions remain high.

The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia attacked with 97 drones, with 70 downed by its air defence system and 27 striking various locations. Mobile networks in the Zaporizhzhia region were also affected, with officials warning people to limit their mobile phone use.

In response to the attacks, Ukraine has launched strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries, seeking to cut off Moscow’s vital energy exports and trigger fuel shortages. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine would be considered legitimate military targets for the Russian Armed Forces.

The plans for a multinational force in Ukraine have been met with opposition from Russia, which described them as “increasingly dangerous and destructive”. The situation remains volatile, with key issues such as territorial control of the eastern Donbas region and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant still unresolved.

Source: Al Jazeera