Russia pounds power facilities around Kyiv, damages major bridge

Overnight, Russian forces targeted energy infrastructure surrounding Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, with missiles and drones, straining the city's power and heating supply as temperatures dropped to freezing levels, officials reported on Saturday. Explosions were heard across the city as Russia launched multiple waves of ballistic missiles, some of which struck the Northern Bridge spanning the Dnipro River, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Missiles aimed at energy facilities beyond Kyiv, including those that transmit power from two nuclear plants to the city and Ukraine's central regions, inflicted significant damage, the energy ministry confirmed. President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the severe difficulties Kyiv faces with electricity, water, and heat supplies, stating that five additional regions were also hit by strikes.

He revealed that Russia fired 36 ballistic missiles, only four of which were intercepted, while Ukraine's air defenses managed to down 149 out of 172 drones. At least two people lost their lives, and around a dozen others sustained injuries across Ukraine during the overnight attacks, which also damaged homes, businesses, and non-residential structures, authorities reported.

Moscow's defense ministry claimed it carried out a massive strike on targets in Ukraine's military-industrial sector and energy and transport infrastructure in and around Kyiv. Russia has intensified air assaults on Ukraine as its ground offensive has largely stalled, regularly striking energy infrastructure in major cities using missiles and drones that are challenging to intercept.

The attacks have expanded in recent weeks to target Kyiv's bridges, causing traffic disruptions in the city of over 3 million residents. These strikes precede a new round of three-way talks in Abu Dhabi involving Ukrainian and Russian officials, as part of a U.S.-backed peace initiative that has produced limited results. President Zelensky suggested that Russia is preparing for trilateral talks by launching ballistic missiles at Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

The attacks also follow recent U.S. midterm elections that have generated optimism in Ukraine regarding increased support against Russia's war from a Democratic-controlled Congress. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is counting on the U.S. Congress to provide greater assistance, as Russia continues to escalate its attacks. The Moscow Times has been labeled as an "undesirable" organization by Russia's Prosecutor General's Office, potentially exposing its journalists to prosecution.

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