Putin says he will continue to attack energy infrastructure as Ukraine faces a “significant shortage” of electricity
The war in Ukraine is two weeks away from ending ten months since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of the neighboring country on February 24. Since then, the European Union has turned to Volodimir Zelensky’s government by sending millions of euros worth of weapons and military equipment, and now the bloc’s supplies have been decimated. “This war has been a brutal awakening for many of us,” European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said Thursday, adding that “our military reserves had been rapidly depleted by years of underinvestment.” And this despite the fact that, according to the annual report of the European Defense Agency, the EU made record military spending last year with a total investment of €214,000 million, 6% more than in 2020.
But a long war exhausts everyone. And it allows to analyze the strengths and weaknesses. After ten months of uninterrupted financial and military support to Kiev, the EU is beginning to shake. “We realize that we lack critical defense capabilities. We don’t have what we need to defend against a higher level of threat,” Borrell lamented. Faced with the danger that the situation could act as an incentive for invading agents, the head of European diplomacy recalled the importance of increasing defense spending and urged the countries of the bloc to continue to support Zelensky: “We need to cooperate more, the European armies need to cooperate more with each other. We must continue to support Ukraine. We must continue to address current needs and prepare for the future,” Borrell encouraged.
Meanwhile, the war continues. The ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure in various parts of the country plunge citizens into darkness. For example, 50% of the Sumy region is without electricity. “The situation with the power supply is difficult. The limits set cover 30 to 50% of users’ needs. Half of the region is permanently without electricity,” explains Dmitro Zhivitskii, the governor of the area.
The situation is complicated in almost the entire country. According to grid operator Ukrenergo, the government has imposed emergency power cuts while work to repair the damaged electricity infrastructure continues. “As of 11 a.m., due to the damage caused by missile strikes to power stations and the high-voltage grid, the system has a significant shortage of electricity,” the Ukrenergo statement said. In Kiev, the mayor, Vitali Klitschko, warned of an “apocalypse” scenario for the capital this winter if shelling continues on these targets. Although he says there is no need to evacuate civilians at the moment, he says they should be ready.
And the situation doesn’t seem to be improving. Putin assured this Thursday that his country will continue to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. “Yes, we do, but who started it?” launched the Kremlin chief after pointing out that this kind of offensive is in retaliation for the explosion that hit the Crimean bridge, as well as for the recent attacks on Russian soil.
But for Moscow, the solution is clear. As Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated today, the invasion “could end tomorrow” if there was a “political will” on the part of Kiev. Despite repeated statements that Putin is determined to end the war, his behavior shows that “he is not really interested in peace,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitri Kuleba, who pointed out that Russia is “preparing for new battles and offensive operations, not for negotiations. There is nothing to suggest that Moscow is willing to speak.”
On the other hand, the Kremlin warned this Thursday that there is a “risk” of the Ukrainian army attacking Crimea, a peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. The statement comes on the same day Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, deployed to Sevastopol, shot down a drone shortly after recording a “powerful explosion” in the center of the city that could correspond to the fall of a missile, the news agency said. BAG.
Source: La Verdad
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
