Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones on Saturday, damaging energy facilities in five regions across Ukraine, officials from the country's national grid operator, Ukrenergo, reported.
Ukrenergo stated that the attack targeted energy facilities in various Ukrainian regions, including Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia in the east, Dnipropetrovsk in the southeast, Kyrovohrad in central Ukraine, and Ivano-Frankivsk in the west. This marks the sixth major missile and drone attack on civilian energy infrastructure since March.
Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 35 out of 53 Russian missiles and 46 out of 47 Russian drones, according to the Ukrainian air force commander.
Since March, Russia has intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian power infrastructure, severely impacting thermal and hydropower generation. These attacks have led to widespread blackouts and record-high levels of electricity imports.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy-generating company, reported that two of its thermal power plants were hit during the attack, resulting in serious damage to equipment.
Regional officials confirmed that firefighters were dispatched to extinguish fires at several sites targeted in the strikes. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of casualties.
Additionally, regional officials reported that the attacks caused significant damage to infrastructure, leading to widespread fires and disruptions in electricity supply. The strikes have exacerbated the energy crisis in Ukraine, with vital power plants and transmission lines being targeted, further complicating efforts to restore normalcy in the affected regions. The continued targeting of civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, has heightened tensions and deepened the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, underscoring the urgent need for international support and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
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