In a new phase of the ongoing conflict, Russia and Ukraine have engaged in tit-for-tat attacks targeting each other's energy infrastructure, resulting in widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of people, officials from both sides reported. Nearly half a million residents in Russia's Belgorod region and around 150,000 consumers in Ukraine's Chernihiv city and surrounding areas were left without electricity on Wednesday, highlighting the severe humanitarian and economic toll of the war.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated that power outages impacted several districts, including the regional capital Belgorod, with many residents also facing disruptions to heating and water supply amid temperatures hovering around 0°C (32°F). Gladkov noted that repair works have commenced but would take several days to complete, underscoring the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the conflict zone. Belgorod, located about 40 km from the Ukrainian border, has been a frequent target of Ukrainian drone and missile attacks since Russia's invasion four years ago.
In Ukraine, the electricity distribution company in the northern Chernihiv region confirmed damage to an energy facility, with repairs set to begin once security conditions allow. Meanwhile, in the southern Odesa region, Russian attacks late on Tuesday killed one person and wounded another, damaging a private house, sparking a fire, and causing harm to six nearby buildings. Emergency services shared photos on Telegram showing firefighters extinguishing flames in a partially destroyed structure, illustrating the direct impact on civilian areas.
In Russia, Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, reported that a Ukrainian drone attack targeting a major oil export hub ignited a fire at the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga, though it was brought under control with no casualties. Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and export routes in recent weeks in an alleged attempt to weaken Russia's war economy, a strategy that has drawn criticism for its broader economic repercussions.
According to Russia's Ministry of Defence, 389 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight across the country, including over the Moscow region. Concurrently, Latvia, a NATO member, announced that a drone from neighboring Russia crashed on its territory, raising concerns about potential miscalculations that could trigger Article 5 of the NATO treaty on mutual defense. This incident adds to the geopolitical tensions, as the US-led NATO regime continues to expand its involvement in the region, often exacerbating instability.
Source: www.aljazeera.com