Power cuts in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv when Russia attacks with missiles
The city of Lviv in western Ukraine went powerless after Russian artillery bombarded the city.
Key infrastructure was also targeted in Kyiv, and city officials said three people were killed in the attack. Across the border, Moldova also reported “extreme” crime, though not directly affected.
BBC reports that Moscow recently stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving half of the state’s power grid in need of repairs. Ukraine’s national electricity regulator said damage to power plants in recent weeks was “extreme” and warned that Ukrainians could face prolonged power outages during the winter months.
Early Wednesday morning, airstrike alerts were issued across Ukraine, followed by reports of widespread explosions. The Air Force of Ukraine said that Moscow brought more than 70 cruise missiles, while the air defense intercepted 51 projectiles. Officials said that five drones were also launched. But the attack damaged infrastructure across the country.
Read Also: Russian Air Strikes Kill Newborn Baby, 2 Others in Ukraine
Ukraine’s state-owned energy company, Energoatom, said three nuclear reactors had been taken out of service due to the shutdown. In Kyiv, parts of the city have been left without water and electricity, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy said the children and their teachers were taken to a safe house – and urged parents not to pick them up until the alarm subsides. Shortly before the latest news from Kyiv and Lviv, officials said that southern Ukraine had been attacked again.
The governor of the Mykolaiv region warned of “many rockets” coming from the south and east. In the nearby areas, a newborn baby was killed when a bomb hit a maternity hospital, emergency services said.
Ukraine: Energy cut in Moldova
More than half of Moldova also lost electricity, Vice President Andrei Spinu wrote on Twitter. He said the attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure had caused “tremendous suffering” across Moldova.
Within hours, power was restored in the capital Chisinau, home to a third of the Moldovan population.
Moldova also suffered widespread power cuts following an attack on Ukraine on Nov. 15, Spinu said. Mobile networks have also been badly damaged. Energy Policy Researcher Sergiu Tofilat said that as Moldova and Ukraine were connected to the European grid in March, one of the connections in the power line between Moldova and neighboring Romania will be closed immediately if affected Ukraine to protect the system: “We are connected once. Ukraine is investigating the damage.”
Responding to the withdrawal, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said Russia had ‘left Moldova in the dark.
