Russia launches comprehensive attack on Ukrainian energy facilities

Kyiv

Ukraine’s air force said on Wednesday it had shot down dozens of Russian missiles and drones fired at Ukrainian energy facilities in a nighttime barrage.

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As Ukrainian troops struggle to hold the front line more than two years after the war began, Moscow has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leading to blackouts and electricity rationing across the country.

“The enemy used 76 air attack assets – 55 missiles and 21 attack drones,” the air force said on Telegram, adding that its air defense systems intercepted 39 missiles and 20 drones.

An eight-year-old child was injured in the central Kirovograd region, while falling debris injured two in the Kiev region, authorities said.

According to the local administration, Russian forces fired several cruise missiles at the capital, putting the city on alert for more than three hours.

“Missiles entered Kiev from different directions – all air targets in the capital area were destroyed,” the military administration of the city of Kiev said.

Moscow has launched some of its largest attacks yet on Ukraine’s energy facilities in recent months, crippling a significant portion of production.

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“The enemy has not given up his plans to deprive Ukrainians of light,” said Energy Minister German Galushchenko, denouncing “another massive attack on our energy industry!”

“Under enemy sight”

The attacks targeted energy infrastructure facilities in at least six regions, the ministry said.

According to Ukraine’s largest private energy supplier, DTEK, at least three thermal power plants were “severely damaged” overnight.

This was the fifth attack on the company’s energy facilities in a month and a half, DTEK said.

According to the Energy Ministry, around 200,000 households in the Kharkiv region faced electricity restrictions.

The city of Kharkiv, just 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Russian border in northeastern Ukraine, has been bombed almost daily in recent months.

Also within range of Russian fire is the city of Kherson, which Ukraine recaptured in November 2022.

The overnight strikes left the city “partially without power,” said regional head Oleksandr Prokudin.

Russian attacks targeted Kherson’s civilian railway infrastructure in the morning, damaging the city’s train station and tracks, the Ukrainian railway company said.

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“Ukrzaliznytsia is again in the enemy’s sights!” it said.

Russian forces have increased attacks on Ukrainian railway infrastructure to disrupt military cargo.

Kiev also says Moscow is stepping up attacks from the air and on land ahead of nationwide celebrations on May 9, when Russia celebrates victory in World War II, and as Ukraine awaits the arrival of key arms shipments from the United States.