Russia has initiated an extensive early morning missile and drone assault on energy installations throughout Ukraine, as reported by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Zelensky disclosed that over 50 missiles and 20 drones were deployed in this attack, as stated in a message on X, previously known as Twitter.
This incident is the most recent in a series of Russian offensives on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which Russia contends are legitimate military targets.
The strikes were aimed at seven regions across Ukraine and occurred on a significant national holiday commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Mr. Zelensky, in his social media post, drew comparisons between the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, labeling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime as “Moscow Nazis.”
The Russian defense ministry claimed that their attacks were in retaliation to Ukrainian strikes on their energy facilities. While Ukraine has targeted various Russian oil facilities in recent times, Russia has been attacking Ukrainian power plants since the beginning of winter in 2022.
The recent Russian offensive on Ukraine’s energy grid commenced in March, leading to a series of attacks that compelled Ukrainian authorities to implement rotating power outages in multiple regions.
On Tuesday, Mr. Putin was inaugurated for his fifth presidential term and expressed confidence that Russia would emerge stronger from a challenging phase.
President Zelensky accused Russia of showcasing the resurgence of Nazism with each new act of aggression, suggesting that this time it is under a new guise: ‘Made in Russia.’
According to DTEK, Ukraine’s largest energy provider, at least three thermal power plants suffered severe damage in the attack on Wednesday, marking the fifth assault on the company’s facilities in seven weeks.
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DTEK mentioned that their teams were on the ground working to restore power, even though 80% of their generating capacity had been either damaged or destroyed.
Maxim Timchenko, the Chief Executive, emphasized the importance of the energy produced by these power stations in enabling millions of Ukrainians to live with dignity, pledging to continue efforts to restore power at their facilities.
Ukraine’s energy ministry warned of potential energy supply constraints for industrial consumers between 18:00 (16:00 BST) and 23:00 due to the damage caused by the attacks.
The strikes targeted crucial energy and transportation sites in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv, as indicated by Ukrainian officials, who mentioned that Soviet-era power plants and gas storage facilities were among the primary targets.
Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko remarked that the enemy’s intention to deprive Ukrainians of light has not diminished.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported two injuries in Kyiv due to the attacks, with one child injured in the Kirovohrad region. Additionally, two children were wounded in Kharkiv, according to Oleg Sinegubov, the head of the region’s administration.
Despite the destruction, Ukraine’s air force intercepted numerous missiles and 20 out of 21 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched towards the country.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have utilized high-precision Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in the assaults.
Experts suggest that the full impact of the Russian attacks may only be felt during the peak of winter when annual energy consumption is at its highest.
In the previous month, a power plant near Kyiv was destroyed, affecting electricity supply to three regions.
Ukrainian forces targeted an oil storage depot close to the Russian-occupied Luhansk city in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday night. Officials appointed by Russia in the area reported five workers sustaining injuries.
Meanwhile, border authorities in Poland detained a Russian military deserter crossing into the country from Belarus. The 41-year-old man, found in civilian attire and unarmed, was apprehended with Russian military documents and is expected to face further legal action in the upcoming days.
