Major Russian attack on Kyiv – electricity, water and district heating affected

After a serious Russian attack on energy facilities, the Ukrainian capital Kiev is struggling with massive power supply problems.

The supply of water and district heating was also affected, Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on Saturday morning. The power supply situation is “extremely difficult”.

According to Klitschko, the attacks targeted, among other things, energy facilities in the area surrounding the capital and in the neighboring Zhytomyr region. According to Ukrainian information, there was a complete power outage in the regional capital of Chernihiv, north of Kiev.

According to Klitschko, five people were injured in the attacks in Kiev, including a 14-year-old child. In addition, the Kiev North Bridge over the Dnipro was damaged and temporarily closed. A video published by Klitschko showed damage to the roadway and guardrails. Power lines for trolleybuses were also torn down. Repair work has begun. The city of three million is divided by the Dnipro. Failures of important bridges therefore significantly affect traffic between the two halves of the city.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the bridge was attacked because it also serves Ukrainian military transport. According to Russian information, a factory for the Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile, the Tripilla power plant south of Kiev and a substation in the Zhytomyr region were also attacked. According to the military, Ukrainian air defense intercepted four ballistic missiles and 149 of 172 Russian combat drones during the night.

Just on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of new Russian attacks on energy facilities and other infrastructure. Intelligence information indicated impending attacks “against the energy sector, against our bridges over the Dnipro and against civilian infrastructure,” said Zelensky. He again called for interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system.

Ukraine, in turn, attacked targets in Russia. According to the Russian regional administration, the oil refinery in Saratov on the Volga was attacked. Videos on social networks showed fires on the refinery site. An arms factory in Oryol, southwest of Moscow, was also reportedly hit.

The attacks come a few days before new talks on a possible end to the war. Three-way talks between representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the USA are planned for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Representatives of the European Union should not take part.