Russia renews missile attacks on Ukraine, leaves cities in the dark

Russia struck cities and power facilities across Ukraine on Tuesday, killing at least one person and causing widespread power outages in what Kiev said was the heaviest wave of missile attacks in nearly nine months of war. .

Rockets fell on cities such as the capital Kiev, Lviv and Rivne in the west, Kharkiv in the northeast, Krivii Rih and Poltava in the central region, Odessa and Mikolaiv in the south and Zhitomir in the north.

A body was pulled from a residential building that was hit and set on fire in central Kiev, and a high-ranking presidential official said the power situation was “critical” after extensive damage to power-generating infrastructure.

In a video posted online, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Ukrainians that more missile strikes were possible, but added: “We are working, we will restore everything, we will survive.” Power was cut in areas of several cities, including Kiev, Lviv and Kharkiv, and the national grid operator announced emergency power cuts in the northern and central regions of the country.

Kiev’s mayor said half the capital is without electricity. The mayor of Lviv claimed that 80% of the city had no electricity, so lighting, water and heating supplies were off. Officials in the city of Vinnytsia, in west-central Ukraine, were told to stock up on water after damage to a pumping station.

“This is the most massive bombing of the energy system since the beginning of the war,” said Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

According to Air Force spokesman Yuiy Ihnat, more than 100 missiles were fired at Ukraine, surpassing the 84 sent by Russia on October 10, in what were previously the heaviest air strikes.

The country’s largest mobile operator has warned of possible signal disruptions, and the transport system has been disrupted in several areas.

In the capital, a five-story apartment block was destroyed after being hit by what residents said appeared to be parts of dropped missiles. Rescue teams and doctors quickly arrived at the scene. “I was in the apartment during the air raid warning. I saw a bright light in my window and I knew something was coming. Then I heard the sound, which was approaching,” said Oleksandra, 22, who lives in the apartment block.

“I saw from my window as the rocket flew, a bright fire and the sound of something flying very close. I immediately got out. I saw people running out of our building and there was smoke. “The last apartment I lived in was also hit” He added, “Fortunately I was abroad at the time.”

The attacks come days after the withdrawal of Russian forces from the southern city of Kherson, and coincide with the G20 summit in Bali, dominated by discussion of the war in Ukraine.

“This is what Russia has to say on the issue of peace talks,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba wrote on Twitter. “Stop proposing that Ukraine accept Russian ultimatums! This terror can only be stopped with the strength of our weapons and principles.”