KYIV: Ukraine authorities have said that Russia had launched a “massive” overnight strike on power infrastructure in the west and south parts of the country.
The energy ministry said that the equipment at (operator) Ukrenergo facilities in Zaporizhzhia and Lviv regions was damaged. It added that two employees were injured in the strike and hospitalized in Zaporizhzhia.
According to the ministry this was “the eighth massive, combined strike on energy infrastructure facilities during last three months.
Over two years into the Russian attack, targeted missile and drone strikes have crippled Ukraine’s power generation capacity and forced the country to impose blackouts and import supplies from the western allies.
Ukrainian officials on Thursday said that energy infrastructure, including a power station, had also been damaged in a major overnight strike which left around 7 employees injured. DTEK, the largest private energy firm in the country, said the attacks caused “serious damage” at one of its power plants.
Russian strikes have destroyed half of Ukraine’s power capacity, President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted. He said this week that all hospitals and schools in the country must be equipped with solar panels on emergency basis. The President of Ukraine has repeatedly urged Ukraine’s allies to send more air-defense systems to defend the country’s vital energy infrastructure.
Earlier, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that his country would prioritize deliveries of anti-air missiles to Ukraine, ahead of other nations that have placed orders. Zelensky further said in a message on social media he was “deeply grateful” for Washington’s move. He further said that tese additional air defense capabilities will defend Ukrainians.
