Blackouts in Ukraine continue after Russian missile strikes

Kyiv residents huddled in cafes for warmth on Thursday after Russian missile strikes caused blackouts in the city and across much of the country. Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv, said 70 percent of the city was still without power on Thursday morning. Regional authorities have reported a total of 7 people killed in Kyiv and the surrounding area. Dozens more are wounded.

What’s Russia’s side of the story? Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Thursday that his country was targeting Ukrainian power plants connected to the Ukrainian military’s command and control system. He added that the aim of the attacks was to disrupt Ukraine’s ability to transport weapons and ammunition to the front lines.

Dig deeper: Read Sharon Dierberger’s report in WORLD Magazine about how Ukrainians inside and outside their home country are coping with the war’s toll.