Russia is preparing for new missile attacks on energy networks, Ukraine says

Kyiv:

Ukraine said on Monday that Russia was preparing for a new wave of missile attacks on its energy network that have plunged large parts of the country into cold and darkness.

A military spokesman for Ukraine said a Russian warship capable of firing cruise missiles was recently deployed to the Black Sea carrying Kalibr missiles.

“This indicates that preparations were underway,” said spokeswoman Natalia Gumeniuk.

“It is quite likely that the beginning of the week will be marked by such an attack,” she added.

With temperatures dropping below zero, repeated Russian attacks have left Ukraine’s power grid on the brink of collapse and power and water supplies to millions have been disrupted in recent weeks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a speech to Ukrainians late on Sunday, warned that Russia was preparing new airstrikes.

Moscow’s troops would continue the campaign of systematic attacks “as long as they have missiles,” he said.

Zelensky added that the military was preparing, along with Western allies, to supply new air defense systems to Ukraine.

Russia has said it is only targeting military-linked infrastructure facilities and blames the blackouts and their civilian impact on Kiev’s refusal to negotiate with Moscow, not Russian missile strikes.

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