Russian Strike on Kyiv Grid Cuts Power and Water Before Abu Dhabi Talks

Residents of Kyiv are dealing with power, water and heating problems after an overnight Russian attack on energy infrastructure in the capital, according to The Guardian. The strike also damaged a major bridge over the Dnipro River, and it came days before Russia, Ukraine and the United States are due to hold talks on ending the war.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to “plunge Kyiv and the entire country into a blackout.” He said the attack was Russia's way of preparing for negotiations.

What the attack hit

Russia used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles against Kyiv and surrounding regions, The Guardian reported. Substations in five regions were targeted, including one that connects two nuclear power plants to Kyiv. Zelenskyy said five people were injured, among them a 14-year-old girl.

The Northern Bridge, a key transport artery in the capital, was closed on Saturday while workers repaired damage to the road surface and power lines.

Russia's defense ministry said its strikes early Saturday were aimed at energy and transport targets.

What this means for people in Kyiv and across Ukraine

For residents, the attack adds to a hard week. The Guardian reported that people in Kyiv have endured day-long power cuts and interruptions to the water supply. Zelenskyy said the city faced serious difficulties with electricity, water and heat.

The closure of the Northern Bridge also removes an important route across the city while repairs continue. The outlet did not report when it would reopen.

Ukrainian officials say the Kremlin aims to freeze civilians into submission over the winter months, which they describe as a war crime. The Guardian reported that Russia has sharply increased air attacks on Ukrainian cities since the summer, as its progress on the front line has stalled. Kyiv says Russia lost 54,000 troops, killed or injured, last month, the highest monthly figure of the war.

The Abu Dhabi talks and the dispute over security

Negotiators from Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. are due to meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Ukrainian officials have little confidence the talks will produce concrete results, The Guardian reported.

Much of the doubt centers on the latest blueprint from Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law. In an interview with CNN, Zelenskyy called it “Yalta 2.0,” a reference to the 1945 summit of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill that divided postwar Europe.

Kushner said in social media posts that the discussions would cover a new security framework for Europe as well as guarantees for Ukraine. The Guardian said this appears to point to the Kremlin's long-standing demand that NATO's expansion be reversed. Trump said on Friday that a big agreement involving all of Europe could be close.

Shortly before invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that NATO return to its pre-1997 posture, before the Baltic states and nations in eastern Europe and the Balkans joined. Western diplomats told The Guardian that accepting Russia's demands would effectively end NATO.

Zelenskyy told CNN that discussing European-Russian security arrangements is not simple and could be dangerous. He said Russia must end its war first and Ukraine must receive meaningful security guarantees. Only then, depending on the answers, could a wider security architecture be considered, he said.

Appeal to Washington

Zelenskyy also urged the U.S. Congress, which the Democrats won in the midterm elections according to The Guardian, to pay more attention to Ukraine under continued Russian bombardment. He said Ukraine must not be left alone and that Kyiv is counting on increased bilateral support from the U.S.

What happens next

The Abu Dhabi talks on Tuesday and Wednesday are the next fixed step. Whether the energy strikes change the mood of the negotiations, and how quickly Kyiv's utilities and the Northern Bridge are restored, was not disclosed in the reports.

Read next
Russian Missiles Hit Kyiv, Injure 5 Days Before Abu Dhabi Talks
Zelenskyy Says Russia Is Targeting Power Grid Before Winter as US Waives Sanctions
Overnight Russian Strikes Kill at Least 6 Across Ukraine, Dozens Hurt

Around Prague, based on reporting by The Guardian