War in Ukraine: thousands of Ukrainians deprived of electricity after Russian strikes

Thousands of Ukrainians are without electricity in areas of the south and east of the country close to the front line, following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said on Friday (November 17). Energy.

In the South, the bombings plunged more than 28,000 consumers into darkness in the city of Kherson, shelled by the Russian army almost daily, and around 3,000 others in its region, the ministry said on Telegram without specifying when the cuts would take place. took place.

In the Kharkiv region (east), a strike damaged energy infrastructure. “More than 17,600 consumers remain without electricity,” added the ministry. In the Donetsk region (east), a Russian bombing damaged a high voltage line cutting power in the town of Kostiantynivka. “In total, 122 localities are without electricity,” according to the same source.

Ukraine is expecting a new campaign of Russian attacks on its energy network, as was the case the previous winter, when millions of Ukrainians were left without heat or electricity in freezing temperatures.

Russia is stockpiling missiles for attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure in winter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a media group including AFP on Thursday. “I think we are better prepared for winter than before,” said Volodymyr Zelensky. “But I don’t think Russia will use fewer weapons,” he added. “Winter will be difficult.”