Russia Launches Largest Attack on Ukraine Energy Infrastructure Since Spring
BBC News reports that Russia has launched a significant assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, primarily targeting Kyiv and the surrounding areas, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi.
At Least Five Killed in Overnight Attacks
At least five people, including a child in the Kyiv region, lost their lives in the overnight attacks across Ukraine. The strikes disrupted power supplies, with Ukraine's biggest private energy firm, DTEK, reporting the restoration of power to 8,000 homes following a challenging night for Kyiv.
Russian Defence Ministry Claims Targeting Major Power Plant
In a statement on Telegram, Koretskyi noted:
"Since the summer, there has effectively not been a single day without enemy attacks on our energy infrastructure. However, a mass and combined attack of this scale has occurred for the first time since the end of the last heating season."
The Russian defence ministry claimed that one of its targets was the Trypilska power station, the largest electricity supplier to Kyiv.
Attacks Impact 11 Regions
According to Koretskyi, 11 regions in Ukraine were targeted overnight, including residential buildings, social infrastructure, civilian enterprises, and railways. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed strikes on critical infrastructure in Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, and Rivne regions.
Power Outages Continue
On Wednesday, several households in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and other regions remained without power, according to Ukraine's energy ministry. State-owned grid operator Ukrenegro advised residents to avoid using high-power electrical appliances between 10:00 and 16:00 local time due to lower-than-usual electricity supplies.
Russian Defence Ministry Announces Strikes
The Russian defence ministry stated that it had launched massive overnight strikes on Ukrainian facilities, targeting the Trypilska thermal power plant and claiming that it supplied electricity to Ukrainian defence facilities.
Damage to Power Plant Confirmed
The operator of the Trypilska plant, Centrenergo, confirmed that the facility had been damaged in a Russian attack and was assessing the extent of the damage.
Kyiv residents woke to a city shrouded in thick, acrid smoke, with air raid alerts and distant air defence gunfire echoing through the murky atmosphere.