Russian Attacks on Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure: Dozens of Facilities Hit, Thousands Left Without Power on World War Two Anniversary
On Wednesday, Russian missiles and drones attacked over a dozen Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities, causing significant damage to three thermal power plants and resulting in blackouts in several regions.
Ukrainian officials reported that they managed to shoot down 39 out of 55 missiles and 20 out of 21 drones used in the attack.
Two people were injured in the Kyiv and Kirovohrad regions.
The targeted facilities were located in the Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia regions.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko described the attack as "massive" and expressed concern over the pressure it places on the energy system, over two years after Russia's full-scale invasion.
Approximately 350 rescuers worked to limit damage to energy facilities, homes, public transport, cars, and a fire station following an explosion.
The national power grid operator, Ukrenergo, implemented electricity cuts in nine regions for consumers and planned to expand them for businesses during peak hours.
Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi stated that electricity imports would not cover power shortages and clarified that hydropower stations were also affected.
Industrial users faced power cuts, while interruptions for domestic users depended on their ability to reduce consumption.
During the World War II anniversary commemoration, Russia attacked Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing significant damage to several power stations operated by DTEK, Ukraine's largest private company, and two hydropower stations.
The damage resulted in a substantial loss of generating power, making it impossible for imports of power from Europe to cover the energy system's shortage.
Russia's defense ministry claimed responsibility for the strikes, retaliating against Kyiv's attacks on Russian energy facilities.
The ministry also stated that Ukraine's military product output and transfer of Western weapons and military equipment to the conflict zone had been significantly reduced as a result of the attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine accused Russia of launching attacks on Ukraine on the day marking the end of World War Two in Europe.
He criticized the West for limited progress in reducing Russian energy revenue and some countries attending Putin's inauguration.
Zelensky urged unity against Russian "Nazism," and Ukraine has increased drone attacks on Russian refineries as a pressure point against Russian advances in the eastern Donbas region.
A NATO official estimates that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have disrupted around 15% of Russia's oil refining capacity.
Russia has continued its assault on Ukraine's energy system, damaging over 800 heating facilities and causing up to 8 GW of power generation losses.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has requested $1 billion for repairs and DTEK, a Ukrainian energy company, is working to restore power at its facilities.
Officials have not disclosed the specific refineries targeted in recent strikes due to wartime secrecy.
Multiple governors in Ukraine reported attacks on critical infrastructure.
Maksym Kozytskyi in Lviv stated that a natural gas storage facility was hit by Russia.
In Poltava region, Filip Pronin reported damage to energy infrastructure caused by a drone.
Governors of Vinnytsia and Zaporizhzhia also reported damages to civilian infrastructure facilities.
Two people were injured in the Kyiv and Kirovohrad regions.
The targeted facilities were located in the Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia regions.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko described the attack as "massive" and expressed concern over the pressure it places on the energy system, over two years after Russia's full-scale invasion.
Approximately 350 rescuers worked to limit damage to energy facilities, homes, public transport, cars, and a fire station following an explosion.
The national power grid operator, Ukrenergo, implemented electricity cuts in nine regions for consumers and planned to expand them for businesses during peak hours.
Ukrenergo CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi stated that electricity imports would not cover power shortages and clarified that hydropower stations were also affected.
Industrial users faced power cuts, while interruptions for domestic users depended on their ability to reduce consumption.
During the World War II anniversary commemoration, Russia attacked Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing significant damage to several power stations operated by DTEK, Ukraine's largest private company, and two hydropower stations.
The damage resulted in a substantial loss of generating power, making it impossible for imports of power from Europe to cover the energy system's shortage.
Russia's defense ministry claimed responsibility for the strikes, retaliating against Kyiv's attacks on Russian energy facilities.
The ministry also stated that Ukraine's military product output and transfer of Western weapons and military equipment to the conflict zone had been significantly reduced as a result of the attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine accused Russia of launching attacks on Ukraine on the day marking the end of World War Two in Europe.
He criticized the West for limited progress in reducing Russian energy revenue and some countries attending Putin's inauguration.
Zelensky urged unity against Russian "Nazism," and Ukraine has increased drone attacks on Russian refineries as a pressure point against Russian advances in the eastern Donbas region.
A NATO official estimates that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have disrupted around 15% of Russia's oil refining capacity.
Russia has continued its assault on Ukraine's energy system, damaging over 800 heating facilities and causing up to 8 GW of power generation losses.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has requested $1 billion for repairs and DTEK, a Ukrainian energy company, is working to restore power at its facilities.
Officials have not disclosed the specific refineries targeted in recent strikes due to wartime secrecy.
Multiple governors in Ukraine reported attacks on critical infrastructure.
Maksym Kozytskyi in Lviv stated that a natural gas storage facility was hit by Russia.
In Poltava region, Filip Pronin reported damage to energy infrastructure caused by a drone.
Governors of Vinnytsia and Zaporizhzhia also reported damages to civilian infrastructure facilities.
Translation:
Translated by AI
