Some 450,000 people without electricity in Belgorod region, while power cut off for 150,000 consumers âin âChernihiv.
Russia and Ukraine have targeted each otherâs energy facilities in tit-for-tat attacks, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power, officials from both countries said, as the worldâs attention has shifted to the US-Israel war on Iran.
Nearly half a â million people were left without electricity in Russiaâs Belgorod region, while 150,000 consumers âin the city of Chernihiv and surrounding areas were without power on Wednesday.
The electricity distribution company in Ukraineâs northern â Chernihiv region said on Wednesday that the energy facility was damaged and repair work â would begin as soon as âthe security situation allowed.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said power outages affected some 450,000 people across several districts, including the regional capital âof Belgorod, with many residents also facing disruption to heating and water supply. The temperature in Belgorod hovers around 0C (32F).
Gladkov said repair works have already started, but that it would â take several days to complete.
Belgorod, which â lies about 40â km (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine, has been a frequent target of âUkrainian drone and missile attacks in the four years since âRussia âinvaded its neighbour.
In Ukraineâs southern region of Odesa, Russian â attacks â late on Tuesday killed â one person and wounded another, emergency services said.
The âattack damaged a private house, sparking a fire, and caused damage to six â buildings nearby. Photos posted on Telegram by emergency â services showed â firefighters putting out â flames in a partially destroyed building.
Meanwhile, in Russia, officials said on â Wednesday a Ukrainian drone attack targeting a major oil export hub sparked a fire at the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Russiaâs Leningrad region, said the fire was being brought under control and that no casualties had been reported.
Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and export routes over recent weeks in an attempt to weaken Russiaâs war economy.
According to Russiaâs Ministry of Defence, 389 Ukrainian âdrones were shot down across the country overnight, including over the Moscow region.
Meanwhile, Latvia, a NATO member, said âa drone â from neighbouring Russia crashed in the country.
A Russian attack or a miscalculation involving a NATO member could prompt allies to invoke the mutual defence Article 5.
