On Monday, a massive Russian bombardment of Ukraine cut off water and power supplies for Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other Ukrainian cities.

Russia claims that the attack was in retaliation for a supposed Ukrainian attack on its Black Sea Fleet. Putin announced that Ukrainian drones had traveled to their targets through an internationally agreed war-free zone, meant to ensure the safety of ships carrying grain from the ports of Ukraine. He claimed that these drones had compromised the safety of Russian ships patrolling the area, justifying the barrage. 

Ukraine denies responsibility for the Black Sea Fleet attack, saying that Russia mishandled its weapons. “The Kremlin is taking revenge for military failures on peaceful people who are left without electricity and heat before the winter,” Kyiv region Gov. Oleksii Kuleba said.

Source: Drop of Light/Shutterstock

The Russian bombardment of Ukraine reportedly left 80 percent of the three million people in the city of Kyiv without water; another 350 thousand apartments did not have access to electricity. Residents of Kyiv lined up in hundreds to hand-pump water from wells, and transportation became difficult without subway trains. Currently, both water and power are gradually being restored to the city. 

Russia is also threatening to restore a blockade of the Black Sea grain route, threatening hunger across the world. In a statement on Monday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said that “traffic along the security corridor defined by the Black Sea Initiative has been suspended” over the allegations that Ukraine had been using the zone.

This blockade could severely impact food availability. The United Nations trade chief, Rebeca Grynspan, warned that it may turn today’s crisis over the affordability of food into “tomorrow’s crisis of availability and a crisis of huge proportions.” Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure claimed that access to the Black Sea trade route is “exclusively humanitarian in nature” and should be kept separate from the conflict to ensure the livelihood of people across the world.

So many innocent lives have been lost, countless volunteers are helping to rescue animals all over the country, and many people are staying behind to help feed hundreds of refugees every day. The impact of the Russian invasion has been devastating for the environment and the global food supply and has even caused mass animal deaths like these dolphins in the Black Sea. Activists all around the world are standing for the people of Ukraine and demanding an end to this war.

Sign this petition to stand with Ukraine and check out 10 Ways to Help People and Animals in Ukraine!

Related Content:

• How the World is Coming Together in Support of Ukraine and the Environment by Cutting Oil Imports From Russia
• Russian Invasion of Ukraine May be Responsible for the Death of up to 50,000 Dolphins in the Black Sea
• Ukraine Zoo Animals Evacuated to Poland and Surrounded by Russian Tanks
• Russian Invasion Destroyed Almost All Wind Power Capacity in Ukraine
• Russia is Burning $10 Million Worth of Natural Gas Every Day
• Ukrainian Sniper and Her Husband Rescue Abandoned Animals

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