By John Ikani
More than a million households in Ukraine have been left without electricity following Russian missile strikes targeting many areas of the country.
Ukrainian Air Force in a statement said several Russian missiles pounded energy facilities and other infrastructure across the country on Saturday as intense fighting continues in the southeastern region of Luhansk, Donetsk and Kherson where Russia has been struggling to stop renewed Ukrainian advances.
The statement which noted that the Air Force had downed 18 out of 33 cruise missiles launched from air and sea, added that they are quite proud of themselves in terms of their success rate of intercepting these projectiles.
But nevertheless, Saturday strikes were worst in terms of the amount of damage to the electricity infrastructure since Russia began its sustained campaign of targeting energy and other critical infrastructure since 10th of October.
Local officials in regions across Ukraine reported attacks on energy facilities and power outages as engineers scrambled to restore the ruined network. Some advised residents to stock up on water in case of cuts.
Parts of Kyiv suffered power cuts into the evening. In one central district, shops were closed and traffic lights were off.
“The geography of this latest mass strike is very wide,” Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address, citing regions in western, central and southern Ukraine.
“Of course we don’t have the technical ability to knock down 100% of the Russian missiles and strike drones. I am sure that, gradually, we will achieve that, with help from our partners. Already now, we are downing a majority of cruise missiles, a majority of drones.”
