Russia destroys energy facility in Kharkiv, mayor says
Russian forces destroyed a major energy facility in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, the mayor said, the latest target of a winter weather campaign that has plunged millions of Ukrainians into darkness and cold.
Russia attacked the power grid and other energy facilities as it pressed for a battlefield offensive that left Ukrainian forces on the back foot in the face of U.S. pressure to secure the peace.
Writing on the Telegram messaging app, Mayor Ihor Terekhov did not specify what type of facility was hit but said emergency crews were at the scene and working 24 hours a day.
Kharkiv, just 25 kilometers from the Russian border, has been a regular target of drones, missiles and glider bombs throughout the war, which will enter its fifth year next month.
Regional governor Oleh Synehubov said authorities were still trying to assess the extent of damage from Thursday’s attack.
Power outages, heating and water outages in major cities worsened last week as Ukraine battled cold weather that overwhelmed its already faltering energy system.
Nearly 300 apartment buildings in Ukraine’s capital were left without heat after a Jan. 9 attack knocked out heating in half of the city’s high-rise buildings, Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko said Thursday.
Russia has also increased its attacks on ports in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said that one person was injured and shipping containers were damaged in the missile attack on Thursday in the city of Chornomorsk.
