Russia pounds power facilities around Kyiv, damages major bridge

Russia launched missiles and drones at energy facilities around Kyiv, causing serious damage to systems supplying electricity and heating as temperatures approached zero. The attacks also damaged the Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River, disrupting a key route in a city of more than three million people, and came days before planned US-brokered talks.

Ukraine’s president said the capital faced major difficulties with electricity, water and heat, and that substations in five other regions were hit. Russia launched 36 ballistic-type missiles, of which Ukraine said it intercepted four; at least two people were killed and about a dozen injured across the country. Moscow said it targeted military-industrial, energy and transport infrastructure, while Ukrainian and Russian officials were due to meet in Abu Dhabi from Tuesday.