Russia resumed strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities overnight on Feb 2-3, in what has been described by Ukrainian authorities as the largest attack of the year. It allegedly devastated energy facilities, plunging the country back into darkness after a several- day pause wherein Ukraine had begun to restore a certain level of power. When President Trump was asked about this, and whether Putin had broken his promise of the week before, Trump defended him and said, “It was Sunday to Sunday, and it opened up and he hit them hard last night. He kept his word on that… we’ll take anything, because it’s really, really cold over there.”
Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said eight regions across Ukraine were targeted in in what he said was an attempt at “winter genocide.” Indeed, the situation is nearing a humanitarian catastrophe as temperatures in Ukraine often drop to -20 Celsius, and millions of people are left without power, heat, or water. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the strikes left 1,170 residential buildings in the capital without heat.
