Strikes on energy grid in Ukraine a 'crime against humanity' Zelensky tells UN

INA-  sources 

Fresh Russian strikes battered Ukraine's already failing electricity grid, causing blackouts across the war-torn nation and in neighboring Moldova, in attacks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said were "an obvious crime against humanity".

The Ukrainian energy system has been left in tatters and millions have been subjected to long periods without electricity after weeks of Russian bombardments, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning the country's priority this winter would be "survival".

Ukraine's military said Russian forces had fired around 70 cruise missiles at targets across the country yesterday and also deployed attack drones.
The strikes piled pressure on the Ukrainian grid, disrupting power supplies in southern and eastern regions, with water and electricity cuts in the capital Kyiv.

"When we have the temperature below zero, and scores of millions of people without energy supplies, without heating, without water, this is an obvious crime against humanity," Mr Zelensky told the UN Security Council via video-link.

The strikes killed seven people and disconnected three nuclear power stations, officials said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the latest Russian attacks were a response to a decision by the European Parliament to recognise Russia as a "state sponsor of terrorism" over its nine-month invasion of Ukraine, and its call for the 27-nation EU to follow.

The resolution approved by EU lawmakers said the "deliberate attacks and atrocities carried out by the Russian Federation against the civilian population of Ukraine... and other serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law amount to acts of terror."

Ukraine praised the decision, with Mr Zelensky calling for Russia to be "held accountable in order to end its long-standing policy of terrorism in Ukraine and across the globe."

The French Ambassador to the UN called the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy system "a clear violation of humanitarian law".

"The objective is clear: in the face of military defeats, to sow terror," Nicolas de Riviere told the UN Security Council, adding "The continuation of these reprisals is intolerable."

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that three people were killed in the attacks in the capital, including a 17-year-old girl, and 11 residents were injured.

AFP reporters at the scene of one strike in Kyiv saw the burnt out remains of two cars and the bodies of two people killed in the blast.

Russia has systematically targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing severe damage to around half of the country's power facilities.
Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi said half of the western city was without electricity.

Neighbouring Moldova said it was suffering massive blackouts caused by the missile barrage and its EU-friendly president, Maia Sandu, accused Russia of leaving her country "in the dark".

Ukraine's nuclear energy operator Energoatom said strikes had disconnected all three nuclear power plants still under Ukrainian control from the grid and forced the plant in Zaporizhzhia (controlled by Russian forces) to be powered by backup generators.
Moscow claimed to have annexed Zaporizhzhia alongside three other Ukraine regions last month despite not having full control of the territory.

On a visit to Armenia yesterday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin had faith in the "success" of its offensive in Ukraine.
In the Kharkiv region, Russian strikes on a residential building and a clinic left two people dead, the governor said.

source: RTE