International News

Russia Strikes Ukraine’s Energy Grid Amid Rising Tensions

Written by Jerry Alomatu on November 28, 2024

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The Russian military launched a widespread attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Thursday 28th November 2024, prompting emergency power outages as temperatures plummeted. The assault comes during a period of heightened hostilities ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.

Ukraine’s Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed the scale of the attack, stating, “Once again, the energy sector is under massive enemy attack. Attacks on energy facilities are taking place across Ukraine.” National grid operator Ukrenergo and energy provider DTEK reported outages in key regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, as emergency measures were enacted.

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, condemned the strikes, saying, “They stockpiled missiles for attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, for warfare against civilians …”

The strikes come after Ukraine deployed U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles against Russian border regions, a move that has intensified the conflict. In response, Russia launched a hypersonic ballistic missile at Dnipro, with President Vladimir Putin warning of potential escalation if Western arms continue to target Russian territory.

Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Trump appointed retired General Keith Kellogg as his envoy to Ukraine, with a mission to mediate an end to the war. Trump’s proposal to negotiate peace has raised concerns in Kyiv, where officials fear pressure to concede territory.

As the conflict grinds on, the United Nations has warned that this winter could be Ukraine’s harshest since the war began in 2022, with the energy grid under relentless attack and millions at risk of being left without heat.

AFP