Kiev, Jan 21, (dpa/GNA) – Power, heating and water supplies were disrupted across parts of Kiev following renewed Russian attacks on Tuesday, with more than 1 million consumers left without electricity, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in the morning that 5,635 high-rise apartment buildings were without heating after the strikes on the Ukrainian capital. Most of the affected buildings had already sustained damage during a major Russian attack on January 9, he said in a post on Telegram.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia carried out the overnight assault using a mix of missiles and drones. A total of 372 drones, one Zircon anti-ship missile, 15 Kh-101 cruise missiles and 18 ballistic missiles were launched against Ukraine, it said.
Air defences intercepted 342 of the incoming objects, though some strikes hit their targets, the air force said.
The Russian military confirmed it had carried out a large-scale airstrike, but said only military targets in Ukraine were hit.
One person was injured in Kiev, police there said.
In addition to damage to energy infrastructure, residential buildings and private vehicles were hit. Several cars caught fire after being struck by falling drone debris.
Water supplies were also disrupted on the left bank of the Dnipro river that flows through Kiev, Klitschko said.
In his evening video message, Zelensky said more than 4,000 apartment blocks in the capital were without heating.
He called on the energy supplier Ukrenergo, the government, regional authorities and city administrations to work to ease the situation, saying: “Every hour must be dedicated to the energy sector.”
Zelensky also criticized the air force again, calling its defence against the Iranian-designed Shahed combat drones unsatisfactory. The work of the air force must be organized differently, he said.
He said he had discussed the matter with Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, warning that there would be consequences.
On Monday, Zelensky announced the reorganization of the air defence forces and appointed the successful commander of a drone unit, Pavlo Yelizarov, as deputy commander of the air force.
Kiev is facing its most difficult winter since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago.
Russia has been systematically targeting Ukraine’s energy system, severely weakening the grid and leading to daily power outages lasting several hours.
A series of heavy attacks on the capital earlier this month, combined with sustained sub-zero temperatures, has worsened conditions for Kiev’s residents. Authorities have set up emergency shelters where people can warm up, collect water and charge mobile phones.
GNA