Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is taking the country “closer and closer” to a total blackout, says one of its MPs.
The Kyiv School of Economics Institute estimates that since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has caused $16bn (£13.46bn) of damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Speaking on Sky News, Kira Rudik, who lives in Kyiv, says the city’s home do not have electricity for the “majority of the day”.
“Even right now, I’m speaking to you all being on a diesel generator,” she said.
“It’s terrifying that still, by this point, we are unable to protect us from those vicious attacks in full. And Russia keeps bringing us closer and closer to that total blackout.
“How we are going to survive the winter is unclear right now, because the weather outside is still good. But once it gets colder and people start to consume more energy, we will not be able to handle it.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in June that Russia had destroyed 80% of Ukraine’s thermal energy generation and a third of its hydro generation.
But this week, he declined to elaborate on what further damage Monday’s strikes had caused.
“I don’t really like energy PR,” he said. “It’s not very helpful when the enemy knows what damage they have done.
“Let the information about the condition of our energy facilities and what we are currently doing there be kept quiet.”