Ukrainian beauticians work under lamps using emergency bank as life continues despite war

Ukrainians shone a light into the darkness as their country was hit by one of the biggest Russian bombardments of the 10-month war.

Nearly 100 missile and Iranian-made drone strikes were carried out on nine power stations as temperatures dropped below zero.

But it was business as usual as people shopped in dark supermarkets and beauticians worked under lamps with power supplied by an emergency bank.

Ukraine ’s second city of Kharkiv bore the brunt of President Putin’s Friday-night blitz and was left for hours without heating or water yesterday.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov said: “There is colossal damage to infrastructure, primarily the energy system.

“I ask you to be patient with what is happening now.”

Gas station workers sell goods to customers and refuel cars during a blackout in Kharkiv (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

But like the Second World War blitz on Britain, citizens kept calm and carried on as normal – with the help of emergency generators.

Part of the capital Kyiv remained without power but mayor Vitali Klitschko said the city’s metro system had restarted and the water supply is restored.

He also posted photos of a large Christmas tree that will be lit with energy-saving bulbs run off a generator.

The mass strikes are a continuation of the Kremlin’s attempt to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Workers of a food court continue to work during a blackout (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region said that rescuers retrieved the body of an 18-month-old boy from the rubble of a house destroyed by a Russian missile.

Four people including a 64-year-old woman died in the strike and 13 were injured, four of them children. Russian missiles aimed at power stations, hydro-electric plants and sub-stations often hit residential areas.

But Russia has enough missiles to carry out more heavy strikes, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warned.

During Friday’s blitz President Putin met his top generals in a well-rehearsed state TV broadcast and asked them what Russia’s next move should be.

Locals buy food at a shopping centre during a blackout (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Ukraine’s top general warned that Russia could try again to capture Kyiv in the spring.

Meanwhile Ukraine last night hosted its final Eurovision national selection from a bomb shelter in Kyiv.

The song contest was won this year by Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra but will be hosted in Liverpool next year because of the war.