Russia Launches Large-Scale Missile and Drone Attack on Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure
On Wednesday morning, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia unleashed a significant assault, deploying over 70 missiles and more than a hundred drones targeting Ukraine's electrical grid and overall energy system. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed outrage at the timing of the attack, which he said was deliberately aimed to coincide with Christmas Day, emphasizing the inhumanity of such an act.
Zelensky's condemnation highlighted that the barrage included ballistic missiles and that the primary objectives of the attack were to disrupt energy supplies and induce widespread blackouts across Ukraine. 'What could be more inhumane?' he posted on social media, denouncing the Kremlin's ongoing aggression.
In response to the attacks, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko announced that the electrical transmission operator was implementing necessary measures to limit energy consumption and mitigate the damage inflicted on the electrical grid. He assured the public that once conditions permit, energy sector workers would assess the full extent of the damage caused by this brutal assault.
The missile strikes prompted alerts in various regions, including Poltava, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kharkiv. While the Air Force has yet to provide a comprehensive overview of the situation, Russian drones were reported in Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, and Kyiv, indicating widespread concerns regarding the attacks.
Several thermal power plants came under fire, according to DTEK, the operator managing the energy supply. They acknowledged damage to equipment but refrained from disclosing further specifics about the extent of the impact. This assault marks the thirteenth major attack against Ukraine's energy sector since the beginning of the year.
Reports from the administration of the Vinnytsia region confirmed that the energy infrastructure had suffered damage but indicated that power supply to consumers had been restored promptly. Similarly, authorities in the Poltava region noted damage to the electrical system, emphasizing that there were no reported injuries or fatalities resulting from the attacks.
The attacks also led to power outages in portions of the western regions, especially in Ivano-Frankivsk and Prikarpatia, further underscoring the escalating intensity of the conflict and its direct ramifications on civilian life.
This latest wave of aggression serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict and the pressing challenges faced by Ukraine as it strives to maintain its energy stability amidst relentless assaults.
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