Kyiv water and power supply crippled after Russia strikes as missile lands in Moldova

The Ukraine war threatens to spill into bordering countries as a barrage of Russian missiles battered Kyiv’s power and water supply.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 27, 2022, a worker examines damage as he repairs power line equipment destroyed after a missile strike on a power plant, in an undisclosed location of Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - Russian drones and missile strikes led to power cuts in "hundreds of settlements" across seven Ukrainian regions on October 31, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)

A Russian missile has landed in a village in northern Moldova as a barrage of missiles cut power and water supply in Ukraine’s capital and surrounding cities.

The missile landed in Naslavcea after Russia fired it into Ukraine only for the missile to be shot down by air defences, according to Moldova’s Interior Ministry.

There were no deaths reported from the missile, but windows were blown out in the village from the impact of the crash.

The spillover into the pro-NATO territory could signal Russian President Vladimir Putin is edging closer to World War III.

It comes as Moldova accused Russian cruise missiles of crossing into the country’s airspace earlier this month.

While not officially a member of NATO, Moldova has been cooperative with the alliance for 30 years.

NORWAY RAISES ‘MILITARY READINESS’

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said his country will begin raising military readiness as war continues in Ukraine.

While Mr Store said there was no immediate threat to the NATO member he believed the country should be on guard.

“The military will as of tomorrow raise its preparedness in Norway,” Mr Store said.

“We currently have no reason to believe that Russia wants to involve Norway or any other country directly in the war, but the war in Ukraine means it is necessary for all NATO countries to be increasingly on their guard.”

Norway shares a land border with Russia and reports have emerged of Russian drones violating airspace regulations.

Norwegian counter-intelligence reportedly arrested a man over suspicions he was a Russian undercover agent.

UKRAINE PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS

Ukraine suffered sweeping blackouts and water supplies were cut for 80 per cent of Kyiv after Russia launched a massive barrage of “more than 50” cruise missiles.

The attack comes days after Russia blamed Ukraine for drone attacks on its fleet in the Black Sea, in an echo of Moscow’s retaliation to the bombing of its Crimea land bridge.

The Ukrainian military said air defences shot down many of the 50-plus missiles launched at targets across the country.

But several blasts were heard in the capital Kyiv, with Prime Minister Denys Shmygal adding the attack caused power cuts in “hundreds” of areas across seven Ukrainian regions.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that engineers were working to restore power to 350,000 homes left without electricity,

A worker examines damage as he repairs power line equipment destroyed after a missile strike on a power plant. Picture: AFP

“Currently, due to the emergency situation in Kyiv, 80 per cent of consumers remain without water supply,” he said.

More than 100 people carrying plastic bottles began lining up to collect water from a park fountain in the west of Kyiv after supplies were cut off by the barrage.

“Russian terrorists have again launched a massive attack against electricity installations,” said the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidency, Kyrylo Tymoshenko.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter: “Instead of fighting on the battlefield, Russia fights civilians.” The Russian army confirmed it had carried out cruise missile strikes and said they had all reached their intended targets.

TARGETS ACROSS UKRAINE

Three missiles struck a site to the north of Kyiv, a soldier close to the target told AFP.

“It is dangerous here because there could be more strikes,” the soldier said at a blocked crossroads.

In a nearby town, Mila Ryabova, 39, told AFP she was woken by between eight and 10 “powerful explosions”.

“We were together with my family, preparing my daughter for school, but now there is no electricity in our house and at school,” said Ryabova, a translator.

Kyiv residents queue to collect water in plastic containers and bottles at one of the parks in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Picture: AFP

Kyiv residents queue to collect water in plastic containers and bottles at one of the parks in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Picture: AFP

“I’m not afraid of anything. (Some people) are still in shelters now, but not us.

“But we are worrying and talking about opportunities to move abroad, because there is a cold winter ahead. We may not have electricity, heat supply. It can be hard to handle, especially with a small child.” Previous strikes this month have already destroyed around a third of Ukraine’s power stations.

In Moldova, the government said a Russian missile shot down by Ukrainian air defences fell on a village in the north of the country, but without causing any injuries.

The country’s interior ministry said the missile fell on the village of Naslavcea close to the Ukrainian border.

GRAIN SHIPMENTS CONTINUE AFTER DEAL ENDS

Monday’s attack comes after Russia pulled out of a landmark agreement that allowed vital grain shipments via a maritime safety corridor.

The July deal to unlock grain exports signed between warring nations Russia and Ukraine — and brokered by Turkey and the United Nations — is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.

But Russia announced Saturday it would suspend its participation in the deal after accusing Kyiv of a “massive” drone attack on its Black Sea fleet, which Ukraine labelled a “false pretext”.

Sevastopol in Moscow-annexed Crimea has been targeted several times in recent months and serves as the fleet’s headquarters and a logistical hub for operations in Ukraine.

Despite Russia’s decision, at least 10 cargo ships loaded with grain and other agricultural products left Ukrainian ports Monday, according to a marine traffic website.

A cargo ship loaded with grain being inspected in the anchorage area of the southern entrance to the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Picture: AFP

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that continuing grain exports without Russian participation was “hardly feasible”.

“It takes on a different character, much more risky, dangerous,” he said. In all, 12 ships were due to leave Ukraine on Monday and four were to head to the country, according to the Joint Coordination Centre that has been overseeing the agreement.

“Civilian cargo ships can never be a military target or held hostage. The food must flow,” Amir Abdulla, UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, said on Twitter.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has stayed neutral throughout the eight-month war in Ukraine, vowed to pursue efforts to keep the agreement in force despite Russia’s moves.

“Although Russia acts hesitantly … we will resolutely continue our efforts to serve humanity,” Erdogan said in a televised address.

Originally published as Kyiv water and power supply crippled after Russia strikes as missile lands in Moldova