The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, addressed Russia at the beginning of the week. Below is an excerpt from his address:
“Do you think we are still one people? Do you still think you can scare us, break us, force us to make concessions? Do you really not understand? Don’t you understand who we are? What are we fighting for, what is all this for?
“Without gas or without you? – The answer is without you. Without electricity or without you? – Without you. Without water or without you? – Without you. Without food or without you? – Without you.
“For us, cold, hunger, darkness and thirst are not as dangerous and deadly as friendship and brotherhood with you. But history shows everyone and everything in its place. And we will have gas, electricity, water and food, and it will be without you!” Zelensky told Russia.
After Ukraine was able to recapture big parts of Kharkiv Oblast, Russia attacked energy infrastructure, including transmission lines, stations and substations, causing power outages in some parts of the country.