Russia, Ukraine tit-for-tat attacks knock out power for over half a million

Some 450,000 people without electricity in Belgorod-region" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="201" data-entity-type="location">Belgorod region, while power cut off for 150,000 consumers ‌in ​Chernihiv.Russia and Ukraine have targeted each other’s energy facilities in tit-for-tat attacks, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power, officials from both countries said, as the world’s attention has shifted to the US-Israel war on Iran.Nearly half a ⁠million people were left without electricity in Russia’s Belgorod-region" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="201" data-entity-type="location">Belgorod region, while 150,000 consumers ‌in the city of Chernihiv and surrounding areas were without power on Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants timeline for next round of Russia talkslist 2 of 3Ukraine’s Zelenskyy urges allies to pressure Russia ahead of US talkslist 3 of 3Ukraine strikes key Russian oil port and refineryend of listThe electricity distribution company in Ukraine’s northern ⁠Chernihiv region said on Wednesday that the energy facility was damaged and repair work ⁠would begin as soon as ‌the security situation allowed.Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said power outages affected some 450,000 people across several districts, including the regional capital ‌of Belgorod, with many residents also facing disruption to heating and water supply. The temperature in Belgorod hovers around 0C (32F).Gladkov said repair works have already started, but that it would ⁠take several days to complete.Belgorod, which ⁠lies about 40⁠km (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine, has been a frequent target of ‌Ukrainian drone and missile attacks in the four years since ‌Russia ‌invaded its neighbour.In Ukraine’s southern region of Odesa, Russian ⁠attacks ⁠late on Tuesday killed ⁠one person and wounded another, emergency services said.The ‌attack damaged a private house, sparking a fire, and caused damage to six ⁠buildings nearby. Photos posted on Telegram by emergency ⁠services showed ⁠firefighters putting out ⁠flames in a partially destroyed building.