A new round of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure caused massive power outages in Ukraine and the country next door, Moldova, which prompted Kyiv to seek for further military assistance from allies.
Ukraine's Energy Ministry said that "the great majority of energy users were shut off" after many districts reported assaults in rapid succession amid the Russia Ukraine war.
No Power, Water Supply For Millions of Ukrainians
Three individuals died while nine others were injured when a Russian attack targeted a two-story building in Kyiv, according to AP News. Russian missiles and exploding drones have been pummeling the electrical grid and other facilities for weeks, causing more damage to the country's civilian infrastructure.
Millions of people have been bearing the frequent blackouts as the new normal, and the latest onslaught has also disrupted the water supply. Ukrainian authorities think Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that unheated and darkened houses during the winter season would sway public sentiment against a further conflict.
But they say Moscow's aggression is bolstering Ukrainian determination to win the Russia Ukraine war. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated on Wednesday that one of the capital's infrastructural facilities has been attacked and that there were "several more explosions" in other areas of the city. He also stated Kyiv's water was off.
The capital city saw partial blackouts, and the cities of Kharkiv, Lviv, and the provinces of Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Odesa, and Khmelnytskyi also experienced power outages. According to Andrei Spinu, Moldova's minister of infrastructure, "we have enormous power outages across the nation." This is because Moldova's electricity grid is still integrated with Ukraine's, which dates back to the Soviet period.
Reuters reported that Ukraine's top general stated that 51 of the 67 Russian cruise missiles launched on Wednesday were shot down by Ukrainian forces after the Russians attacked and destroyed Ukraine's power plants. Chief of Staff Valeriy Zaluzhniy reported through Telegram that 30 missiles had been fired against Kyiv, 20 of which had been intercepted.
Read Also : Elon Musk Causes Civil Right Groups 'Righteous' Meltdown After Allowing Donald Trump Back on Twitter
US Senators Push Sending of Top Notch Drones For Ukraine
Meanwhile, 16 US senators from both Democrat and Republican parties have urged the Biden administration to reevaluate its decision to provide Ukraine with the lethal Gray Eagle drones to use in its battle against Russia.
The Gray Eagle drone, which can operate for 24 hours and has an operational ceiling of 8,800 meters (29,000 feet), has been requested by Kyiv. However, the Biden administration has denied the request, citing safety concerns and the possibility that the drones may be taken down, further aggravating the Russia Ukraine war.
According to Al Jazeera, Ukraine has pleaded with the United States to provide it with sophisticated drones to assist it to gain an edge in the fight as Russia aggressively employs suicide drones to destroy civilian infrastructure. The senators have asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to respond to their concerns about the drone's suitability for the Ukrainian conflict by November 30.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Russia has been assaulting his country's energy infrastructure, using the extreme cold as a "weapon of mass destruction." This prompted him to seek further assistance on Tuesday.
According to Zelenskyy, Russian assaults have destroyed half of Ukraine's power grid, leaving millions of people without access to water and electricity as winter comes in and temperatures plunge below zero.
