Day 1,339 - Blackouts in Kyiv as the Energy War Intensifies

Edition No253 ||| Day 1,339 ||| 14-10-2025 - This is your Silicon Bites Daily Geopolitics Brief, with a rundown of news stories on 14th October 2025. We cover Ukraine, Russia, China and the global struggle against autocracy. Russia’s winter playbook returns — mass strikes on Ukraine’s grid — while Ukraine pushes the war deep into Russia’s energy heartland. Moscow’s markets wobble, the World Bank trims growth, and Europe braces for hybrid hits on its energy lifelines. Let’s go.1) Ukraine suffers another mass energy strike, blackouts in Kyiv.Russia hit Ukraine’s energy system again at scale late Oct 9–10, plunging districts of Kyiv and multiple regions into darkness and disrupting water. Initial counts ran to hundreds of thousands without power before emergency crews restored much of the grid. The Kyiv Independent’s on-the-ground brief captured the rhythm of the night — “missiles, one after another” — and the immediate aftermath across the city. (The Kyiv Independent)President Zelenskyy later said Moscow had waited for bad weather — cloud cover and wind — to weaken air defences. He also linked the timing to global distraction with Gaza and other stories. (The Kyiv Independent)Why it matters: The winter energy war is back. Expect recurring volleys designed to sap civilian morale, drain air-defence stocks, and force expensive repairs. What it won’t do, is force Kyiv residents to abandon their city, or the struggle against Russian domination. ----------This is super important. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtainAutumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal€22,000)We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalionhttps://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: Kyiv Independent: “‘Missiles, one after another’ — Kyiv blackouts as Russia strikes Ukraine’s energy infrastructure once again”* (Oct 10, 2025)Reuters: “Power being restored after Russian attack…” (Oct 10, 2025)Kyiv Independent: “Putin waited for bad weather…” (Oct 11, 2025)The Guardian: “Ukraine war briefing: Latest refinery strike shows ‘no safe places in Russia’s deep rear’” (Oct 11, 2025)Reuters: “Senior Ukrainian officials head to Washington…”The Guardian: “Ukraine war briefing: Moscow voices ‘extreme concern’ at Trump threat to send Tomahawks…” (Oct 13, 2025)The Moscow Times: “Russian Stocks Suffer Sharpest Single-Day Drop in 3 Years” (Oct 8, 2025)Kyiv Post / ISW: “Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, Oct 11–12, 2025” (posted Oct 12–13)Meduza: “‘The Kremlin has resources’…” (Oct 10, 2025); “‘For the Defense Ministry, people are garbage’…” (Oct 8, 2025)The Insider: “Spanish prosecutor closes investigation into Maxam…” (Oct 2, 2025)----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------