Blackouts in Kyiv as Russian missiles ‘hit critical infrastructure’

Jump to contentSign up to our newslettersSubscribeNewsSportsVoicesCultureLifestyleTravelPremiumCloseVladimir Putin accuses West of seeking ‘global domination’ through ‘dirty game’ in UkraineRelentless Russian strikes have rained down on critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities this morning, local officials say.Part of Ukraine’s capital was cut off entirely from power and water supplies as a result, its mayor Vitali Klitschko said in the wake of rolling blackouts across the city.Elsewhere, officials reported possible power outages in the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia due to strikes.It comes after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of creating “conditions of artificial famine” after Russia suspended an UN-brokered grain export deal with Kyiv.’How can Russia be among the G-20 if it is deliberately working for starvation on several continents,” Mr Zelensky said during an address on Ukrainian television, according to NBC News.He said that Russia was ‘doing everything to ensure that millions of Africans, millions of residents of the Middle East and South Asia find themselves in conditions of artificial famine or at least a severe price crisis.’1667205728As the cold weather approaches, bleak warnings have been issued in Kharkiv where energy infrastructure came under Russian fire this morning.Reporting from Kivsharivka, an urban settlement in eastern Ukraine, The Independent’s international correspondent Bel Trew told of how elderly residents are already living makeshift outdoor cabins in a bid to keep warm.’Yesterday I was in Kivsharivka where under shelling, without power, gas or water, the elderly are building makeshift outdoor cabins out of scavenged cupboards, wood & scrap metal to cook & to try to keep warm. They told me they entirely rely on humanitarian aid for food,’ she wrote on Twitter.In an earlier tweet, Bel said she was entirely without power this morning following shelling in the area.’This is going to be the nightmare as temperatures drop,’ she wrote.Emily Atkinson31 October 2022 08:421667204655Kyiv is not the only Ukrainian city to have seen massive barrages of Russian strikes on its critical infrastructure.Here is what we know so far:Reports of possible power outages in the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia resulting from strikesCritical infrastructure objects were also hit in the Cherkasy region south east of KyivThe energy facility in the Kirovohrad region of central Ukraine was struck, according to local authoritiesIn Vinnytsia, a missile that was shot down landed on civilian buildings, resulting in damage but no casualties, according to regional governor Serhii BorzovIn Kharkiv, the subway ceased operating. Some parts of Ukrainian railways were also cut off from power, the Ukrainian Railways reported.Explosions have also been reported in other regions of UkraineEmily Atkinson31 October 2022 08:241667203878Videos of smoke rising over Kyiv have lit up Twitter this morning following reports of strikes across the city.Rohit Kachroo, global security editor at ITV News, wrote earlier that he had heard eight explosions in the Ukrainian capital, alongside a short video clip which looks north from city centre:Emily Atkinson31 October 2022 08:111667203089Civilian cargo ships can never be a military target or held hostage, the UN coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative has said, insisting that ‘the food must flow’ under the deal from which Russia withdrew at the weekend.Amir Abdulla’s comment on Twitter came after the United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine pressed ahead with a transit plan. Russia had withdrawn saying it could not ‘guarantee safety of civilian ships’ after an attack on its Black Sea fleet.Emily Atkinson31 October 2022 07:581667202415Engineers are working to restore power following damage to the damage to an energy facility that powers about 350,000 apartments in Kyiv, its mayor Vitali Klitschko has said.Following a barrage of Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital this morning, he wrote on Telegram: ‘Specialists, together with other emergency services and authorities are doing everything possible to stabilise the situation as soon as possible.’Emily Atkinson31 October 2022 07:461667201721Government officials have corroborated reports of vicious strikes across Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine this morning.Lesia Vasylenko, a Ukrainian MP, this morning tweeted: ‘Monday starts with Russia missile attacks across the country. Kyiv has been under fire for the last hour. Blackouts again. And no water in parts of the city. Putin’s crimes against civilians continue.’Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba called on people to avoid justifying Russia’s strikes by calling them a ‘response.”Another batch of Russian missiles hits Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Instead of fighting on the battlefield, Russia fights civilians,’ he wrote on Twitter.’Don’t justify these attacks by calling them a ‘response’. Russia does this because it still has the missiles and the will to kill Ukrainians.’A spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry said amid reports of strikes on critical infrastructure that Vladimir Putin’s ‘only goal is death and destruction.’Posting to social media this moring, he said: ‘Morning starts with air defense sirens all across Ukraine. Russian missiles hit energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities, causing electricity and water outages. ‘Russia is not interested in peace talks, nor in global food security. Putin’s only goal is death and destruction.’Emily Atkinson31 October 2022 07:351667201024Relentless Russian strikes have rained down on critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities this morning, local officials say.Part of Ukraine’s capital was cut off entirely from power and water supplies as a result, its mayor Vitali Klitschko said in the wake of rolling blackouts across the city.Elsewhere, officials reported possible power outages in the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia due to strikes.It comes just two days after Russia accused Ukraine of a drone attack against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet off the coast of the annexed Crimean peninsula. Ukraine has denied the attack, instead accusing Russia of mishandling its own weapons.Moscow still announced is was halting its particiaption in a UN-brokered deal to allow safe passage of ships carrying grain from Ukraine.Emily Atkinson31 October 2022 07:231667199736A series of blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Monday morning.Similar explosions were heard in Kharkiv, where Russia “hit a critical infrastructure facility in the city”, mayor Ihor Terekhov said.Air raid sirens are on in all the regions of the country.Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 October 2022 07:021667198867Wheat futures surged after Russia suspended a crucial agreement to allow grain exports from Ukraine through the Black Sea.Moscow suspended the grain deal yesterday after drone strikes against its naval fleet, claiming that one of the drones might have come from a grain ship that’s part of the initiative.Wheat in Chicago jumped as much as 7.7 per cent to $8.9 a bushel at the open on Monday before paring gains to 5.6 per cent by 11.15 am in Singapore, Bloomberg reported.Meanwhile, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN have agreed to have 16 vessels carrying food from Ukrainian ports sail today, challenging Russia’s decision.Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 October 2022 06:471667196868Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday said that his troops have repelled a ‘fierce offensive’ by Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region.The war-time president said a military unit from Chop in western Ukraine had undertaken the action, but did not say where the clash had occurred.’Today they stopped the fierce offensive actions of the enemy,’ Mr Zelensky said in his nighttime address. ‘The Russian attack was repelled.’Alisha Rahaman Sarkar31 October 2022 06:14Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalismBy registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalistsAlready have an account? sign inRegistration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalismBy registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalistsAlready have an account? sign inUkraineRussiaVolodymyr ZelenskyVladimir PutinKyivKharkiv A woman looks at her home, destroyed during battles at the start of Russia’s full scale invasionGetty ImagesPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in