Russia strikes Ukraine energy grid ahead of peace talks

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Russia has launched extensive attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure using hundreds of drones and missiles just one day before scheduled peace talks in the United Arab Emirates.

The large-scale assault has left hundreds of households without electricity and heating, casting a shadow over the US-brokered negotiations set to take place in Abu Dhabi. President Volodimir Zelenskiy stated that Russian forces targeted at least five regions with 450 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 70 missiles of various types.

Heaviest attack on the grid

The timing of the strikes is significant, occurring shortly after the Kremlin claimed to have approved a limited ceasefire until February 1 at the request of US President Donald Trump. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had previously stated this move was intended to create a suitable atmosphere for negotiations.

However, the reality on the ground reflects a different strategy. DTEK, the country's largest private energy company, described the bombardment as the heaviest attack on the electrical grid this year. The company noted that thermal power plants were specifically targeted during the night, marking the ninth major assault on the energy system since October.

Impact on civilians and heating

President Zelenskiy condemned the strikes, asserting that Russia intends to deny Ukrainians access to electricity, heating, and water during one of the coldest winters in recent years. Energy Minister Denis Shmyhal echoed these sentiments on Telegram, stating that the targets were entirely civilian and that hundreds of thousands of families were deliberately left without heating in freezing temperatures.

According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, approximately 1,170 apartment buildings in the capital were left without heating in the early hours of the morning. The State Emergency Service reported that five people were injured in attacks on residential buildings, a kindergarten, and a gas station in various districts of Kyiv.

Regional damage and cultural sites

The attacks were not limited to the capital. Strikes were also reported in Kharkiv in the northeast and Odesa in the south. Kharkiv Governor Oleh Sinehubov stated that the attack on his city lasted several hours and aimed to cause maximum destruction to the energy infrastructure.

In addition to infrastructure damage, Ukraine's cultural heritage also suffered. Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna reported that the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II, located at the foot of the Motherland Monument in Kyiv, was damaged during the bombardment.

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Source : DW