Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed his nation Sunday night after reports of Russia firing upon civilian energy structures to take out power in communities. Zelensky said the "terrorist acts" were deliberate as the 200-day war curves into the winter season.
"Even through the impenetrable darkness, Ukraine and the civilized world clearly see these terrorist acts," Zelensky said through his Telegram account. "Deliberate and cynical missile strikes on civilian critical infrastructure. No military facilities. Kharkiv and Donetsk regions were cut off. In Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy there are partial problems with power."
Zelensky shared this Telegram video of the alleged attack.
Zelensky just one day earlier said Ukraine's 30-plus years of independence will come down to 90 days of harsh winter in the region.
"This is the most difficult winter for the whole world. Russia is doing everything in 90 days of this winter to break the resistance of Ukraine, the resistance of Europe and the resistance of the world. Because this is what Russia hopes for, this is its last argument," Zelensky said.
"There are 90 days ahead, which will decide more than 30 years of Ukraine's independence. 90 days that will decide more than all the years of the existence of the European Union. Winter will determine our future."
On Sunday night, the Ukrainian president said his nation will prevail with or without food, gas or water, but that it would certainly be without Russia.
"Read lips: Without gas or without you? Without you. Without light or without you? Without you. Without water or without you? Without you. Without food or without you? Without you.
"Cold, hunger, darkness and thirst are not as terrible and deadly for us as your "friendship and brotherhood."
Zelensky particularly calls upon his nation's allies to do their best efforts in providing air defense against Russian strikes on businesses and infrastructure that provide heating sources to Ukrainian people.
"The targets of Russian missiles can and will be enterprises and infrastructure that provide people with heat and electricity," Zelensky said. "We already export electricity to our neighbors, which helps replace dirty Russian energy resources, and we can easily increase exports to at least two and a half gigawatts, and later even more... But for this, the Russian military needs to withdraw from the territory of the Zaporizhia NPP. This fundamental European interest now, at this time before winter."
Russia began building troops along Ukraine's northern and western borders in late January, and they began attacking Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since then, there have been heavy casualties on both sides. That includes Ukrainian civilians, foreign fighters, Ukrainian military and more than 52,600 Russians.
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