Berlin, Feb 7 (EFE).- A massive Russian overnight assault involving about 400 drones and some 40 missiles, most targeting energy infrastructure, triggered emergency power cuts across much of Ukraine on Saturday, just two days after the latest round of US-mediated talks involving Kyiv and Moscow.
According to Ukrainian authorities, almost the entire country was affected by the overnight assault from Friday to Saturday.
One person was killed and two others injured in the western region of Rivne, which borders Belarus.
Several other western regions were particularly impacted, including Volyn, which borders Poland; Ivano-Frankivsk, near the Romanian frontier; and Lviv, also bordering Poland.
Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, said on Facebook that “as a result of damage caused by the enemy, emergency power outages have been applied in most regions.”
“These emergency outages will be lifted once the situation in the energy system stabilizes,” the operator said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack on Telegram, saying that “the main target was the power grid and generation and distribution substations.”
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal specified that Russian forces struck two substations and transmission lines that form “the backbone of Ukraine’s power grid,” as well as two electricity-generation facilities in Dobrotvir and Burshtyn, both located in western Ukraine.
“Russian criminals have once again carried out a massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” Shmyhal said.
As a result of the damage, Ukrenergo made an emergency request for electricity assistance from Poland.
The neighboring EU country placed its airspace under heightened military vigilance overnight due to the proximity of the Ukrainian regions under attack.
Poland’s Armed Forces Operational Command (RSZ) reported that the measures included the deployment of ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems, along with NATO aircraft operating on the alliance’s eastern flank.
Freezing temps, Russian onslaught
The strikes came as some Ukrainian cities braced for temperatures of up to 6 degrees below zero Celsius.
Since the start of winter, Russia has intensified attacks on key infrastructure, a strategy Zelenskyy said aims to deprive Ukrainians of electricity and heating.
“Moscow must be deprived of the ability to use the cold as leverage against Ukraine,” the president said, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“This requires missiles for Patriot, NASAMS, and other systems. Every shipment helps us get through this winter. I thank all our partners who understand this and are genuinely helping,” Zelensky added, referring to talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the US.
Toward possible new round of talks
Ukraine, Russia and the United States launched the current trilateral dialogue with meetings on Jan. 23 and 24 in Abu Dhabi. A second round was held there this week on Wednesday and Thursday, resulting only in a prisoner exchange.
A third round could take place in the United States. Zelenskyysaid on Saturday that Ukraine has already confirmed its participation in a potential new meeting proposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration.
“We have reviewed with the team the progress on draft documents essential for ending the war, as well as the prospects for possible new meetings in the near future. I believe more progress is needed,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“I have outlined our vision of the framework for further dialogue, and we work on the timeline for necessary steps. We will keep our European partners informed about the state of negotiations and the real prospects for the entire negotiation process.” EFE
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