JAKARTA - Russia intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's electricity and water infrastructure this week, with Ukraine and the West calling it a campaign of civilian intimidation ahead of winter.
On Thursday, electricity supply will be restricted nationwide between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., government officials and network operator Ukrenergo said.
In addition, street lighting in cities will be restricted, said a presidential aide on messaging app Telegram, adding that if electricity usage was not minimized, there would be temporary blackouts.
While limited to Thursday, "we don't exclude that with the onset of cold weather we will ask for your help more often," Ukrenergo said.
Separately, in a video address on Wednesday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia destroyed three Ukrainian energy facilities over the past 24 hours.
A Russian missile strike hit the main thermal power plant in the western Ukrainian city of Burshtyn on Wednesday, the region's governor said.
President Zelensky, who says a third of his country's power plants have been hit by Russian attacks, discussed security at power plants with senior officials.
"We are working to create a mobile power point for the critical infrastructure of cities, towns and villages," he wrote on Telegram.
"We are preparing various scenarios," continued President Zelensky.
VOIR éGALEMENT:
As previously reported, Russia admitted its attacks targeted Ukrainian energy plants. However, Kyiv said water infrastructure was also affected by the attacks.
"The situation is critical right now across the country. The whole country needs to prepare for power, water, and heating blackouts," Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Ukraine's presidential office, said Tuesday.
The Russian Defense Ministry reiterated that it carried out strikes against military targets and energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine with high-precision weapons.
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