Ukraine suffered this Monday, December 5 a sixth massive attack on its energy infrastructure. Nearly 70 cruise missiles were fired by the Russian army towards its territory, from the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, but also the territory of the Russian Federation. Strikes that were partly neutralized by the anti-aircraft defense of the Ukrainian army. However, several projectiles fell on their targets, killing four, according to an initial report, and further aggravating the situation on the energy front, in kyiv, the capital, and throughout the country, hit by new power cuts.
This Tuesday, December 6, the situation could be much worse, but it is however very delicate, says Stephane Siohan, RFI correspondent in kyiv. Why ? Because according to the Ukrainian authorities, the anti-aircraft defense intercepted 60 of the 70 missiles that were launched yesterday on the country, which is considerable, but it also means that targets have been hit, particularly in the kyiv region, Vynnytsia in the center of the country and in the city of Odessa.
As of Monday afternoon, the public electricity operator UkrEnergo, carried out emergency cuts in many regions to stabilize the network and to maintain a balance between electricity production and consumption.
An expected cold snap
As a result, Monday evening, a large part of kyiv was plunged into darkness, the electricity and water supply was cut in Odessa and Zaporizhia, while in the capital, this night, the temperature dropped around minus ten degrees. The new salvo was intended to ” make Ukrainians suffer as much as possible “, while the freezing cold hits the country, said the boss of Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian electricity operator.
” A cold snap is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, Volodymyr Kydrytsky warned on television. ” The timing that the Russians have chosen for this attack is linked to their desire to inflict (…) maximum damage to our energy system “, he estimated.
#Ukraine 70 missiles fired towards Ukraine this afternoon, a majority of them shot down by anti-aircraft defense (according to authorities). Major cuts (electricity water) in Odessa + “Preventive” cuts in Kyiv and other regions (government source) – 1
— Stephane Siohan (@stefsiohan) December 5, 2022
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In the coming days, Ukraine’s electricity producers will give priority to supplying the country’s infrastructure, which will keep the population in a state of extreme tension.
For its part, Russia claimed on Tuesday morning that a drone attacked an airfield located in the Russian region of Kursk, on the border with Ukraine, a day after Moscow accused kyiv of having struck with drones. two of its airbases.