Russian strikes wound nine and damage Ukraine's power grid ahead of Abu Dhabi talks
Overnight Russian drone and missile attacks hit 12 Ukrainian regions, damaging energy infrastructure and wounding nine people, President Zelensky said.
Overnight Russian drone and ballistic missile attacks damaged Ukrainian energy infrastructure, causing blackouts and disrupting water supplies, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, according to the BBC.
Zelensky said 12 regions came under attack, with Kyiv hit hardest. Nine people were reported hurt across the country, including one child, in a wave of more than 30 ballistic missiles and over 170 drones. "The situation in the capital is difficult, with disruptions to electricity, water, and heating supplies. Residential buildings, the North Bridge, and a kindergarten have been damaged," he said. Substations connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytsky nuclear power plants to Kyiv were also struck.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko later said the city's water supply was back to normal and around 60% of apartment buildings were connected to heating. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said there were power cuts in five regions. Substations were also damaged in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv and Dnipro regions.
The attacks come before Ukrainian and Russian delegations take part in trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi next week. Zelensky said Moscow was preparing for the talks by attacking critical infrastructure. Temperatures are falling, and parts of Ukraine have seen the first winter snow.