New Delhi, Feb. 7 -- Russian missiles and drones have pounded Ukraine's energy grid in recent weeks, plunging people into frozen darkness in one of the country's coldest winters on record.

Ukraine has accused Russia of illegally targeting power infrastructure during the war to deny civilians light, heating and running water.

"Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than diplomacy," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday, on the eve of a new round of talks about ending the conflict and as temperatures in Kyiv hovered around minus 20 C (minus 3 F).

Russia says its attacks are a legitimate part of its military campaign against its neighbor. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine its...