Blackouts in Ukraine as Russia hits power stations

(22 Oct 2022) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Borodyanka - 21 October 2022 ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 1. Various of dark streets and buildings after sunset with no light 2. Mid of woman walking on the side of the street using a torchlight 3. Wide of street lamps turned off, silhouette of residential building left in dark at sunset 5. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Andrii Pidobid, taxi driver: "We were under occupation, it was cold back then, we were hiding in the basement, and could not stay in the apartment. So now it's not very pleasant, but what can you do about it?" 6. Mid of man smoking a cigarette at the window in dim light 7. Wide of building left in dark due to absence of electricity 8. Wide of cars driving by dark road 9. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Oleksandra Fedorenko, student: "It's very bad for studying because the teachers' internet disappears, and this takes down the desire to study, because you don't understand them. Nothing works well, and it's very confusing, what they say and how to study." 10. Various of windows with light in otherwise dark buildings STORYLINE: After sunset, darkness falls in neighbourhoods and towns around Kyiv on Friday as Ukraine is now experiencing rolling power cuts as a result of Russia's strategy of striking power plants and other infrastructure. Russia has declared its intention to increase its targeting of Ukraine's power, water and other vital infrastructure in its latest phase of the nearly 8-month-old war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Moscow's forces have destroyed nearly a third of the country's power stations since October 10. Thursday marked the start of a nationwide electricity conservation campaign. Following a meeting between Zelenskyy, government ministers, members of energy enterprises and some local officials, presidential adviser Kyrylo Tymoshenko said there would be power supply restrictions across Ukraine from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., along with the use of street lights being limited in some cities. In residential areas on the outskirts of Kyiv, as well as in towns and villages outside the capital, people walk in pitch dark watching their steps with torchlight or mobile phones. Andrii Pidobid, a taxi driver in the town of Borodyanka, said that on Friday the power went off twice for about two to three hours each time. But Ukrainians are vowing to stand firm despite the attacks. They say they have stockpiled flashlights, candles and firewood, stored up canned goods and bottled water and have plenty of warm clothing. Pidobid says this is nothing compared to when Borodyanka was under Russian occupation at the beginning of the invasion in March. "It was cold back then, we were hiding in the basement, and could not stay in the apartment. So now it's not very pleasant, but what can you do about it?" Under its new strategy, the Russian military hopes to destroy enough of Ukraine's infrastructure to make life so intolerable that residents will blame their own government, said Hanna Shelest, the director of security programs at Foreign Policy Council Ukrainian Prism, based in Kyiv. Putin has called Ukraine a failed state and a historical part of Russia. In trying to make Ukrainians suffer, he hopes they will believe him, she said. 11-year-old student Oleksandra Fedorenko says she is losing the desire to study since the power cuts make it hard to follow online classes as internet access gets disrupted. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...