Sunday, June 23, 2024

Russia launches ‘massive’ attack on Ukraine power infrastructure


Russia launches ‘massive’ attack on Ukraine power infrastructure
AFP



Ukraine on Saturday said Russia had launched a “massive” overnight attack on energy infrastructure in the country’s west and south.

“Equipment at (operator) Ukrenergo facilities in Zaporizhzhia and Lviv regions was damaged,” the energy ministry said, adding that two employees were wounded and hospitalized in Zaporizhzhia.

It said this was “the eighth massive, combined attack on energy infrastructure facilities” in the past three months.

More than two years into the Russian invasion, targeted missile and drone attacks have crippled Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity and forced Kyiv to impose blackouts and import supplies from the European Union.

Ukrainian authorities on Thursday said energy infrastructure, including a power station, had been damaged in a major overnight attack which left seven employees wounded.

DTEK, the largest private energy company in Ukraine, said the strikes caused “serious damage” at one of its plants.

Russian attacks have destroyed half of Ukraine’s energy capacity, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

DTEK chief executive Maxim Timchenko warned that Ukraine “faces a serious crisis this winter” if the country’s Western allies do not provide military aid to defend the energy network.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged Ukraine’s allies to send more air-defense systems to protect the country’s vital infrastructure.


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