Russian Drone and Missile Assault on Ukraine Causes Widespread Heating and Water Disruptions

A nighttime assault by Russian drones and missiles aimed at vital infrastructure, such as energy facilities and railways, caused heating and water shortages for thousands of households in Ukraine, according to a statement from Kyiv on Saturday.

This recent series of airstrikes occurs as Ukrainian negotiators are engaged in discussions in Florida with American representatives for the third consecutive day, working on a plan to conclude the nearly four-year-long conflict.

Overnight, Russia deployed 653 drones and launched 51 missiles against Ukraine, as reported by Kyiv’s air force on Saturday.

President Volodymyr Zelensky noted on social media, “The primary targets of these attacks were once again energy facilities. Russia intends to cause suffering for millions of Ukrainians.”

One drone strike “set ablaze the main railway station building in Fastiv,” located approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) southwest of Kyiv, as stated by Zelensky.

While there were no injuries reported, Ukraine’s national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsya, mentioned that suburban train services have been affected.

The drone and missile attacks also targeted energy infrastructure in the Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, according to Kyiv officials.

“In the Odesa region, 9,500 homes are currently without heating, and 34,000 households lack water due to the damage,” said Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba.

An emergency meeting of ministers was called in response to the strikes, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced on X.

“To manage the aftermath of this attack, additional temporary power outages will be necessary throughout the country,” she added, emphasizing the need for stabilization during ongoing repairs.

Despite international efforts led by the U.S. to resolve the conflict, Russian forces have consistently targeted Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, severely harming essential civilian facilities.