Over a Million in Ukraine Face Water and Heating Crisis Amid Escalating Russian Attacks

Russian bombings on Ukraine during the night resulted in over 1 million residents in the Dnipropetrovsk region losing access to water and heating, a Ukrainian minister reported on Thursday as temperatures fell below freezing.

Similar to previous winters, Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities, causing heating and water disruptions in what Kyiv and its allies describe as a calculated tactic to weaken the civilian populace.

A large-scale drone assault by Russia also caused power outages in the Zaporizhzhia region, leaving thousands without electricity or heating, as stated by the state grid operator Ukrenergo on Wednesday evening.

«Work is ongoing in Dnipropetrovsk region to restore heating and water services for more than a million customers,» wrote Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba on social media.

The situation in Dnipro is alarming at the moment. Following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, conditions are dire. Approximately 600,000 households in the region lack electricity. There is no power, water, or heating, and mobile network services are unreliable. Electric transportation has come to a halt.

The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched an attack with 97 drones, of which 70 were intercepted by air defense systems, while 27 successfully hit various targets, though no further details were provided.

Dnipropetrovsk’s vital energy infrastructure suffered damage during the attack, according to military chief Vladyslav Haivanenko.

«The situation is challenging. However, once the security conditions permit, energy workers will commence restoration efforts,» he shared on Telegram.

In Zaporizhzhia, electricity has been restored to «essential facilities,» but the majority of residents remain without power, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

In retaliation for the persistent targeting of its energy infrastructure, Kyiv has launched strikes on Russian oil storage facilities and refineries in an attempt to disrupt Moscow’s crucial energy exports and induce fuel shortages.