Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Addresses Energy Crisis Amid Russian Attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted the severe impact of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leading to widespread power outages and heating issues amid freezing temperatures. In Kyiv, residents are experiencing electricity for only a few hours daily, with communal heating points being set up to provide temporary relief. The national grid company, Ukrenergo, is working to repair the damage from recent attacks, which have targeted power plants and substations. The situation is exacerbated by the reliance on centralized heating systems, a legacy of the Soviet era, making urban areas particularly vulnerable. The U.S. had previously proposed an energy de-escalation initiative, which Ukraine agreed to, but Russia has not responded.