Ukraine’s major cities suffered emergency cuts on Saturday amid a devastating night of Russian missiles and drones targeting the country’s energy and gas infrastructure.
It was the latest volley in the War of the Grinding between the two countries, Russia vs. Ukraine power plants and Ukraine vs. Russia oil refineries Almost daily in Russia – before winter sets. Ukraine began to reduce its power and water due to such attacks.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, more than 50 drones and 36 missiles did it, hitting at least 25 locations, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, more than 36 drones and 36 missiles did so. Russia mainly targeted Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, as well as Dnipro and Kharkiv, along with smaller cities. At least three people were killed, including an energy worker on the job in Kharkiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday afternoon that officials were working to restore electricity, water and heat across the country.
“It was a very flag-and-show holiday,” he said.
Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk said the bombing was the fifth major attack on the country’s energy infrastructure since early October. In the state television broadcast, Ukrainians asked for rational electricity.
“Even if you have power, limit the use of high-energy devices,” said Mr. Kolisnyk.
A state energy company in Central and Eastern Ukraine, Centrenerergo, said On Facebook In February 2022, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The company said that “unprecedented rockets, countless rockets and countless drones” aimed at the same two thermal power plants that resulted in it were the largest power plants.
“Power plants are on fire,” CentrenerGo said in a Facebook statement Saturday afternoon. He added that the company was no longer able to generate electricity at these thermal power plants.
Ukraine’s state-owned electricity company Ukraydogan has ordered customers to limit energy consumption in several regions. Residents of Kyiv reported being without electricity for eight hours.
Prominent Ukrainian energy company DTEK said late Saturday that the attack “caused serious damage” to equipment at the thermal power plant. It was the fourth such attack on DTEK plants since October.
On Saturday evening, 26-year-old Anastasiia Melnyk was sold at a building materials store in Kyiv and said that the electricity in her home had been out for four hours since midnight. He almost lives in his house, almost like a camper, with a portable gas stove water and a power bank to charge small appliances.
“Such severe fire, unfortunately, is our reality,” said Ms. Melnyk, an astrologer. He added that he did not believe this winter could get worse than in 2022, the first year of full-scale war. Nevertheless, “we are mentally prepared,” he said.
As Ms. Melnyk argued with him, an announcement suddenly came over the speaker, warning customers to be careful and that the store was running on a generator.
“Watch your step in the dimly lit corridors,” the vendors were warned.
32, uliana kozakevych was hunting for gas cans to power the emergency stove in the store.
“Besides, why sit at home when there is no power?” He added.
Oleksandra Mykolyshyn contributing report.
