Russian Attack Leaves Kyiv's Residents Without Water: 'Terrorists'

Air raid sirens screamed across Ukraine early Monday morning as Russian forces unleashed another massive attack on the country.

The Kremlin deployed at least 50 missiles, targeting critical Ukrainian infrastructure. The missiles damaged key electrical infrastructure, impeding parts of Ukraine's water supply and shuttering several regions in darkness from power loss.

Russia has launched attacks in earnest against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure after failing to overcome Ukrainian forces in the face of strong counteroffensive attacks. As the war stretches to the ninth month, the Kremlin has threatened to hamper critical energy infrastructure, and Ukrainian civilians are beginning to feel the brunt of the damage.

The attacks injured more than a dozen people and left 80 percent of Kyiv residents without water after a Russian missile strike at an energy infrastructure facility. Other regions, including Zaporizhzhia, lost power, although it is being restored in some areas.

Water supply company Kyivvodokanal said its utility service workers were working to restore the Kyiv supply as soon as possible, according to a tweet from the Kyiv Independent. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to stock up on water from street pumps and stores in the meantime.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal condemned the Russians for targeting civilians and critical infrastructure, calling Russian forces "terrorists."

"Russian terrorists have again massively attacked Ukraine," Shmyhal said, quoted by The Kyiv Independent in a tweet. "They are not targeting military bases but critical and civilian infrastructure sites."

Russian forces launched Monday morning's missiles from north of the Caspian Sea and from Rostov Oblast, according to tweets from The Kyiv Independent. The Ukrainian air force shot down at least 44 of the missiles, but the debris and remaining missiles damaged at least 18 critical civilian infrastructure sites in Ukraine and injured 13 people. The attacks hit 10 Ukrainian regions and damaged 18 buildings, the majority of which were part of Ukraine's energy system.

Two weeks ago, a Russian politician suggested on state TV that the Kremlin should target Ukraine's energy supply, causing civilians to freeze and starve.

"The absence of electricity means the absence of water, the absence of refrigerators, the absence of sewer," Andrey Gurulyov, a deputy in the State Duma, said during the television segment. "One week after all electricity is cut off, the city of Kyiv will be swimming in s***, pardon my expression. There will be a clear threat of an epidemic."

Total damage from the Monday morning attack has not been announced, as Ukraine's National Police continues to receive reports of damage throughout the targeted areas. Ukrainian officials have introduced emergency power cut-offs to preserve the country's energy supply, a measure they have used in the past, according to The Guardian.

The Monday morning attacks are beginning to become a habit for Russian forces, according to an article by The Kyiv Independent. It was the third mass Monday attack this month. On October 10, Russian forces fired 83 missiles and killed 20 Ukrainians. A week later, Russia attacked Kyiv with an Iranian drone, killing four.