Russia launches new wave of attacks on Ukrainian energy

After more than 70 drone and missile attacks targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure overnight, Russia advanced into eastern Ukraine and captured two villages in two regions, Moscow said on Wednesday.

The drone and missile fire fired early Wednesday, including Iranian-made Shahed drones, was Moscow’s retaliation for Kiev’s attacks on Russian refineries. Russia has also reportedly taken control of two villages, one in the Kharkiv region and one in the Donetsk region, without independent confirmation, Reuters reports.

Missiles and drones hit over 10 critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine and caused extensive damage to thermal power plants, Reuters reported, citing Ukrainian officials. Russian attacks damaged energy facilities in six regions, while Ukraine commemorated Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest energy supplier, told the BBC on Wednesday that the attacks on three thermal power plants marked the fifth attack in the past two months and had knocked out 80% of DTEK’s generating capacity.

“The energy that these power plants produce allows millions of Ukrainians to live in dignity,” the BBC quoted DTEK boss Maxim Timchenko as saying on Wednesday. “We will not stop working to restore power to our facilities.”

The latest wave of attacks comes as Lithuania announced it was ready to send troops to Ukraine after Moscow threatened to conduct tactical nuclear weapons exercises in response to Western saber-rattling over Ukraine. Kiev has not requested troops from Lithuania, but there has been speculation that the West could send troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through the front lines.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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