This is John Batchel, a conversation with colleague John Hardy of the Foundation for Defensive Democracies watching Ukraine.

The Russians are attacking the energy nodes, meaning that maybe 12 hours a day of electricity for the people in the large city such as Keefe.

They alternate doing homework and cooking. However, the electricity down for half the day or more in the

wintertime is going to put extreme pressure on the Ukrainian civilian life, young and old.

Here's John to explain what's expected again. More of this tonight.

I think this will be a really hard winner. That said, I don't think that, you know, I think

the Russians are trying to kind of break Ukrainian will by freezing them.

You know, they've tried that, like I said, for the past two winners as well.

It does not work then.

I don't think it'll achieve their ultimate objective now.

But it certainly will be difficult. And I think Moscow hopes it'll be kind of another element that adds leverage to their negotiating position.

Okay.