The energy situation in the country is “critical” – Russia launched “about” 100 missiles against Ukraine today while the G20 meeting was in progress – Signs that China and India are starting to distance themselves from Russia
Seven million homes were without power across Ukraine today after a barrage of Russian attacks, more than 100 according to Ukrainian forces, hours after Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech at the G20 and just days after Russian troops withdrew from Kherson. War sirens rang out in the early afternoon across Ukraine sending civilians to shelters. Since the Russian attacks, two apartment blocks have been hit, killing at least two people.
In fact, due to the massive Russian attacks, Moldova is also facing electricity problems.
Parts of Moldova are experiencing power outages as a result of Russia’s missiles hitting Ukrainian cities & vital infrastructure.
Every bomb falling on Ukraine is also affecting Moldova and our people.
We call on Russia to stop the destruction now.
— Nicu Popescu (@nicupopescu) November 15, 2022
The energy situation in the country is “critical”.
The Ukrainian presidency described the situation as “critical” as the new Russian attacks again damaged at least 15 energy facilities, plunging half of Kyiv into darkness, as stated by Kirill Tymoshenko, deputy head of the office of the Ukrainian president. “Our electricians are doing everything to reconnect the power supply as soon as possible” he pointed out.
In the city of Lviv, where explosions could still be heard late in the afternoon, the city’s mayor reported that 80% of the city was without power after the attack.
“Russian terrorists have conducted a new planned attack against energy infrastructure. The situation is critical,” Tymoshenko told Telegram. As he said, the situation in the capital Kyiv is “extremely difficult”. “Schedules of special emergency power outages have been imposed,” he added, noting that more than seven million Ukrainians are without electricity.
Citizens in many regions of Ukraine, such as in Kherson, are collecting water from the Dnipro River, fearing that in addition to power outages, there will also be water supply problems in the coming hours.
Due to the problems with the electricity supply, even the air raid sirens are deactivated in many areas.
The national grid operator, Ukrenergo, said the worst damage was in the northern and central regions and that emergency power outages were taking place for “all categories of consumers” in those regions. He also announced a special emergency holiday in Kyiv.
The (Russians) are again trying to turn off the lights in the country. Energy infrastructure has been damaged during the new major missile attack. The attack is still ongoing, we cannot determine the full extent of the damage, there is “intrusion” into our infrastructure in all regions of the country, but the most difficult situation is in the northern and central regions. In this regard, there have been established completely extraordinary holidays for all categories of consumers. In the city of Kyiv, special emergency power outage programs have been established. Please stay in the shelter and thank you for your understanding. Please share this information with those who do not use social media!” said the company Ukrenergo.
Problems on the internet too
Meanwhile, Netblocks, which monitors cyber security and connectivity around the world, says Ukraine is “currently experiencing a major internet outage”.
Netblocks tweeted that “live measurements show national connectivity at 67% compared to previous levels. The incident comes amid reports of one of the most intense Russian missile strikes to date.”
Barrage of attacks in many areas
Kyiv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipro Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odesa are among the areas that received Russian attacks. Russia launched “about” 100 missiles at Ukraine today. “About a hundred missiles were fired (…) from the Caspian Sea, the (Russian) Rostov region” and also “from the Black Sea,” Yuriy Ignat told Ukrainian TV, clarifying that “so far, the use has not been recorded attack drones (unmanned aerial vehicles)’.
This video published by Deputy Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko shows an apartment building on fire following a Russian missile attack on central Kyiv.
According to the official, Russia hit 2 residential buildings on Nov. 14. Rescue operation is underway. pic.twitter.com/uJ0VLmTDXQ
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) November 15, 2022
According to Ukrainian forces, many rockets were intercepted by Ukrainian forces, however, some found their target, causing serious damage to homes and energy facilities. The residents have been in the shelters since noon after the appeal of the Ukrainian forces.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, warned that it is possible that the country will receive new Russian blows, but as he said “we will survive”. Specifically, in a video shared on Telegram, Zelensky said that 85 missiles were launched against Ukraine today and another 20 were expected to hit the country. For this reason, he warned residents to stay in shelters.
The US condemns
The United States strongly condemned Russia’s missile attacks in Ukraine on Tuesday, saying they appeared to have hit residential buildings in the capital Kiev and elsewhere in the country, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
“We are not letting it go unnoticed that, as G20 world leaders meet in Bali to discuss issues of vital importance to the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, Russia is once again threatening those lives and destroying critical infrastructure of Ukraine,” Sullivan said in a statement. “These Russian strikes will only serve to deepen concerns among the G-20 about the destabilizing impact of Putin’s war.”
In turn and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken condemned Russia’s missile attacks and pledged to stand by Ukraine “as long as necessary”.
In a tweet, Blicken said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “showed leadership again today by making clear he is ready for diplomacy toward a just end to the war started by Russia.”
The response from Moscow “was another wave of missiles,” he said, adding: “These attacks will not break Ukraine’s will, we will be with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
.@ZelenskyyUA demonstrated leadership again today by making clear he is prepared for diplomacy towards a just end to the war Russia started. Russia’s response was another wave of missiles. These attacks will not break Ukraine’s will—we will be with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 15, 2022
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Russia’s latest missile attacks in Ukraine demonstrate the “weakness” of President Vladimir Putin.
The callous targeting of Ukrainian cities with more sickening missile attacks today only shows Putin’s weakness.
Putin is losing on the battlefield and – as we saw today at the G20 – diplomatically too.
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) November 15, 2022
Signs that China and India are beginning to distance themselves from Russia
At the same time, China and India are reportedly beginning to gradually distance themselves from Russia. Both countries have repeatedly defended Moscow but have also expressed concern about the conflict.
A draft G20 communiqué said “most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine.”
Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared to offer a veiled criticism of Russia’s actions. In a speech at the Bali summit, the Chinese leader warned against the “weaponization” of food and energy, comments that will be widely seen as aimed at the Kremlin.
“We must strongly oppose the politicization, instrumentalization and weaponization of food and energy issues,” Xi said.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said once again today: “I have said repeatedly that we have to find a way to get back on the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine.”
The apparent subtle changes in the language used by China and India could signal potentially huge changes in the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the war in Ukraine, according to skynnews.
Zelensky and Lavrov at the G20
For many analysts, the barrage of Russian attacks comes not only for reasons of revenge on the part of Moscow for the withdrawal from Kherson, but also to distract the Russian people from the defeats of the Russian army in Ukraine.
The attacks came just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke at the G20 Summit. The Ukrainian president presented during his speech ten proposals for ending the war. In particular, he characterized it as a “Ukrainian formula”.
The “Ukrainian formula” for peace includes the following proposals:
1. Nuclear safety
2. Food security
3. Energy security
4. Release of all prisoners and deportees
5. Implementation of the UN Charter and restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and world order
6. Withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of all hostilities
7. Restoration of Justice
8. Reversal of environmental destruction
9. Prevent Escalation
10. Determination of the end of the war
However, a little while later, the Russian Foreign Minister threw the negotiation ball once again to Ukraine, accusing her of refusing to negotiate, not Russia.
“We have repeatedly confirmed through our president that we do not refuse to negotiate. If anyone refuses to negotiate, it is Ukraine. The more he continues to deny [το καθεστώς του Κιέβου]the more difficult it will be to reach an agreement” clarified Sergey Lavrov.
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