Russian missile barrage knocks out power to Ukrainian cities

Bloomberg

A salvo of Russian missiles knocked out power across Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin’s forces continued their campaign of attacking infrastructure.
Rockets slammed into residential areas across the country, including the capital Kyiv, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, and Poltava suffered blackouts in the ninth barrage since October.
The attack, which underscores Moscow’s focus on pounding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in an attempt to weaken the nation’s resolve to resist Putin’s invasion, included more than 60 missiles, air defense spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said in a televised interview.
Officials are conducting emergency blackouts across the country after strikes hit power facilities, including in Kyiv, the deputy head of President Zelenskiy’s staff, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said on Telegram.
With temperatures hovering around freezing, there will be temporary disruptions to water and heating, and it will take at least several hours before the situation normalises, he said.
It was the first large-scale barrage since December 5, when Ukraine said it had downed more than 60 of the 70 missiles it said Russia had launched.
Ukraine’s allies have responded by heeding Kyiv’s call for more air-defense capabilities, with US officials saying Washington is poised to send Patriot air and missile defense batteries to Ukraine pending final approval from President Joe Biden.
A top Ukrainian official also said that Moscow may only have enough firepower for three or four more missile barrages. Russia denies it has any difficulties in supplying its military, even as western intelligence services say that it has turned to other nations for drones and is seeking artillery shells from North Korea.

EU backs Russia sanctions on drone imports

Bloomberg

European Union member states reached a deal on a ninth package of sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, targeting Moscow’s access to drones, additional banks as well as officials responsible for allegedly abducting children from Ukraine.
The measures, which enter into force once published in the EU’s official journal, were agreed by the bloc’s ambassadors and impact more than 100 individuals and dozens of entities, according to documents seen by Bloomberg. The EU also agreed to ban direct exports of drone engines to Russia or third countries, such as Iran, which could then supply drones to Russia.
The sanctions will target three banks — the Russian Regional Development Bank, Credit Bank of Moscow and Dalnevostochny Bank — four media outlets, export restrictions on more chemicals and technologies used for military purposes, as well as goods,
including several types of
hard drives, radio-navigation equipment, generators, computers, laptops, cameras and lenses, and more than 100 individuals and entities.
The latest package of sanctions will also ban new investments in Russia’s mining sector.