“From the towns near the front to the skyscrapers of the capital, Ukrainians were trying to save energy on Tuesday, écrit The New York Times this October 18, while President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the Russian attacks of the last eight days had destroyed 30% of Ukrainian power plants and caused ‘huge power cuts across the country’.”
These strikes, presented as retaliation for the explosion ten days ago on the Crimean bridge, are causing great concern as winter approaches.
On Monday evening, Zelensky called on Ukrainians to reduce their consumption during peak hours “and many locals and businesses are doing their part” adds the US newspaper. “On social networks, small businesses, banks and other services post photos of the savings measures they adopt, such as turning off illuminated signs. In the capital, billboards are no longer lit at night and some of the streetlights are off.”
The role of Iranian drones
Ukrainian authorities said on Tuesday nearly 1,200 localities were without power, London reports The Guardian. Russian strikes continued on Tuesday, “both in kyiv where two people died and in other cities. In the capital, an electrical installation was targeted”, precise The country.
According to Ukraine, Russia would in particular use Iranian-made drones. However, “the Kremlin spokesman said he did not know if these devices were used, continues the Spanish newspaper. On Monday, Iran disputed this, although images of the attack on kyiv show aircraft identical to Iran’s Shahed 136s.
And while in Tehran, the Foreign Ministry spokesman denied that Iran was selling arms to Russia, “accounts linked to the Revolutionary Guards on social networks boasted about it” still reports The New York Times. On a Telegram channel affiliated with the paramilitary organization, according to the newspaper, a post proclaimed: “There is no doubt that the drones used by Russia were Iranian.”