Ukraine warns of outages after “massive” attack on power plants

Kyiv:

Ukraine warned on Wednesday of possible power outages across the country after a “massive” wave of Russian missiles and drones attacked the country’s struggling energy system.

Moscow also said its forces had taken control of two more frontline villages as it stepped up attacks both by land and air and Ukrainian troops struggled to hold the front line more than two years after the start of the war .

“On the day of commemoration and victory over Nazism in World War II, Nazi (President Vladimir) Putin launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure sparked renewed warnings of blackouts and electricity rationing.

“There may be power outages across Ukraine for residential and industrial customers … due to new damage to equipment at Ukrainian power plants caused by Russian strikes,” utility Ukrenergo said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the attacks were in retaliation.

“In response to the Kiev regime’s attempt to damage Russian energy facilities, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation this morning launched a group strike against energy facilities and enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine,” it said in a press conference.

Kiev has targeted Russian oil refineries and storage depots with drone strikes in recent months.

– “Particularly difficult situation” –

Ukrenergo said it was working to overcome electricity shortages in the face of a “particularly difficult situation,” including by using emergency supplies from European countries.

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

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

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.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said on Wednesday that Kiev had set up a new government task force to “coordinate work to overcome the consequences of Russian energy terror.”

With the war showing no signs of ending, he said the focus would be on preparing Ukrainian homes and businesses for next fall and winter.

– Progress on the battlefield –

Russia said on Wednesday its forces had captured two more frontline villages in Ukraine, including in the northeastern Kharkiv region, from which it was forced to withdraw in 2022.

Russian army units “liberated the village of Kyslivka in the Kharkiv region” and Novokalynove in the eastern Donetsk region, the Defense Ministry said.

Kyslivka is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the embattled Ukrainian fortress of Kupiansk, while Novokalynove is about 10 kilometers north of Avdiivka, which was captured by Moscow in February.

Moscow has made numerous territorial gains since the capture of Avdiivka by exploiting a battlefield advantage in manpower and ammunition.

Kiev says the long-delayed arrival of US military supplies will help stabilize the situation at the front.

Even though Washington has signed a $61 billion aid package for Kiev, Zelensky is pushing his allies to provide more air defense systems amid ongoing airstrikes.

Russia fired 55 missiles and 21 attack drones into Ukraine overnight, the air force said on Telegram, adding it intercepted 39 missiles and 20 drones.

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

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

Around 200,000 households in the northeastern Kharkiv region are facing electricity restrictions.

In the southern frontline region of Kherson, a 65-year-old woman was killed by Russian shelling overnight, the regional Ukrainian prosecutor’s office said.

Injuries were also reported in the Kiev, Kharkiv and Kirovograd regions.

Kiev says Moscow is stepping up air and land attacks to secure a string of successes ahead of May 9, when Russia celebrates victory in World War II.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)