Russia targets electricity and water supply in Ukraine in an effort to weaponize winters

Picture Courtesy: Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday to act against Russia over air strikes on civilian infrastructure that have again plunged Ukrainian cities into darkness and cold as winter sets in.

President Zelenskyy said via video link to the council chamber, “Today is just one day, but we have received 70 missiles. That's the Russian formula of terror. This is all against our energy infrastructure ... Hospitals, schools, transport, residential districts all suffered.” Russia rained down missiles across Ukraine for another day, forcing shutdowns of nuclear power plants and killing civilians as Moscow pursues its campaign to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and cold as winter sets in.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "clearly weaponizing winter to inflict immense suffering on the Ukrainian people.” The capital city of Kyiv was one of the main targets on Wednesday of the missile strikes.

Power was knocked out for more than half of neighbouring Moldova, the first time a neighbouring state has reported such extensive damage from the war in Ukraine. The entire Kyiv region is now without electricity, according to regional Gov. Oleksiy Kuleba. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said water supplies were knocked out for the entire city.

Klitschko said on Wednesday evening at least 80 per cent of people in the capital remained without power and water, but Kuleba said repair crews were working hard and "electricity will begin to appear in the coming hours. Don't panic!"