Article:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling warning following a devastating strike blackout that left 200,000 people in Ukraine without electricity. In a conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin defended Russia's decision to launch strikes on Ukrainian energy sites, citing previous attacks on Russian targets as justification.

Putin argued that these strikes were a response to Ukraine's actions, stating, "We observed a series of strikes on our energy sites recently and were obliged to respond." The Russian president further explained that the attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure were part of Russia's goal to "demilitarise" Ukraine, as they directly impacted Kyiv's military industry.

Putin claimed that Russia refrained from attacking these targets during winter out of humanitarian considerations, to avoid leaving social institutions like hospitals without power. However, after a series of attacks on Russia's power facilities, they felt compelled to respond.

The recent Russian blitz on Ukraine's energy system has caused significant damage, with power substations and generating facilities in five regions affected. Notably, the Trypillya power plant near Kyiv, a major electricity supplier for three regions, was completely obliterated by Russian missiles.

The Chairman of Centrenergo, Andriy Hota, expressed shock at the scale of destruction, stating, "The scale of destruction is terrifying." As a result, residents were urged to close their windows, charge all their devices, and stock up on water.

This development comes as the war in Ukraine appears to be tipping in Russia's favor, leading to concerns that they may be able to break through the current frontline stalemate. Despite heavy losses in recent battles, Russia continues to amass forces for further offensives.

Ukraine's DTEK power company condemned the strikes on "purely civilian power stations," accusing Russia of attempting to strangle Ukraine's energy system and jeopardizing their hard-won freedom.

The strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have sparked outrage among Ukraine's allies, who have voiced their support for the country in the face of Russian aggression. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, calling for a de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

As Ukraine grapples with the aftermath of these devastating strikes, the focus now turns to the potential response from the international community and the steps that will be taken to hold Russia accountable for its actions.