Russian Missile Assault Causes Heating and Water Disruptions in Ukraine as Peace Talks Continue

A recent overnight assault by Russian drones and missiles on vital infrastructure, including energy facilities and railway systems, has caused heating and water shortages for thousands of households in Ukraine, as reported by Kyiv on Saturday.

This latest series of aerial attacks arrives just as Ukrainian negotiators engage in their third consecutive day of discussions with American representatives in Florida, aiming to find a resolution to the nearly four-year-long conflict.

Overnight, the Russian military launched 653 drones and 51 missiles towards Ukraine, according to statements from Kyiv’s air force.

President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked on social media that “the primary focus of these assaults once again was on energy infrastructure. Russia seeks to sow despair among millions of Ukrainians.”

Zelensky also noted that a Russian drone strike caused significant damage to the central railway station in Fastiv, located roughly 70 kilometers (43 miles) southwest of Kyiv, leading to its burning down.

Although there were no casualties, the Ukrainian state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsya, confirmed disruptions in suburban train services.

Energy structures in the Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions were also targeted by the attacks, according to Kyiv.

Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported that “in the Odesa region, 9,500 households are currently without heating and 34,000 households lack access to water due to the damage incurred.”

Following the strikes, an emergency meeting of ministers was held, as indicated by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko on X.

She further stated, “To manage the effects of this attack and stabilize the system while repairs are being carried out, additional rolling power outages will be necessary throughout the country.”

Despite efforts spearheaded by the U.S. to resolve the conflict, Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s electricity and heating infrastructure since its large-scale invasion began in February 2022, leading to the destruction of critical civilian assets.