Missile Barrage Hits Kyiv & Other Cities Following Latest EU Sanctions

A Russian missile barrage has hit the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as well as other cities, in what city officials have called “one of the biggest missile attacks” since the start of the Russian invasion. The strikes are seen as an attempt to knock out the Ukrainian power network and other energy and utilities infrastructure as the country deals with plummeting winter temperatures, in an effort to force Ukraine into a surrender.

• Substantial parts of the country, especially in the east and south, are already experiencing blackouts, lack of heating, and disrupted water supplies due to Russian missile attacks on infrastructure.
• Comes a day after the EU agreed to a ninth round of sanctions on Russia. These measures, yet to be publicly announced, are expected to include travel bans and asset freezes on around 200 Russian officials and senior military personnel, and a ban on the export of drone engines to Russia and Iran.
• Despite the EU sanctions, media speculation remains that EU capitals could seek to encourage President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration to engage in talks w/Russia to reach a ceasefire. Persistently high energy prices, risks of recession or significant economic slowdowns in EU members, a shortage of weaponry, and concerns about food and fertiliser supplies just some of the factors seen as weighing on EU gov'ts.