Ukraine war update: Russia's massive airstrikes this week “cost Putin $1.3 billion” | World news

Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure are bringing the country “ever closer” to a total power failure, says one of the MPs.

Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has caused £13.5 billion worth of damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the Kyiv School of Economics Institute estimates.

Kira Rudik, who lives in Kyiv, told Sky News that households in the city were without electricity “for most of the day.”

“Even at this moment, I am talking to all of you while using a diesel generator,” she said.

“It is frightening that we are still unable to fully protect ourselves from these malicious attacks. And Russia is bringing us ever closer to a total blackout.

“How we will survive the winter is still unclear at the moment, because the weather outside is still nice. But if it gets colder and people use more energy, we will not be able to cope.”

Volodymyr Zelensky said in June that Russia had destroyed 80 percent of Ukraine's thermal energy production and a third of its hydroelectric power generation.

This week, however, he declined to comment on what further damage Monday's strikes had caused.

“I'm not a big fan of energy PR,” he said. “It's not very helpful when the enemy knows the damage he's done.”

“Information about the condition of our energy facilities and what we are currently doing there should be kept confidential.”