During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian forces launched around fifty missiles and drones on the Ukrainian electricity network.
On Tuesday night, Russian forces launched more than 50 cruise missiles and explosive drones into Ukraine’s power grid, targeting a wide area. President Volodymyr Zelensky called this Russian attack a “massive”.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 55 missiles and 21 Shahed drones overnight. 39 missiles and 20 drones were shot down by air defenses, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said.
Targets in seven Ukrainian regions were hit, in the Kyiv region, as well as parts of the west and south. Homes and the country’s railway network were damaged, according to authorities. The death toll currently stands at three people injured, including an 8-year-old girl.
This is not the first time that Russia has targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure during this war. The goal of Russian forces is to deprive Ukrainian industry of its energy supplies, particularly military factories. By cutting off the electricity, the Russian forces also want to shake the morale of the population.
Air defense munitions are depleted by the massive attacks, while Ukrainian forces desperately await Western deliveries, including Patriots.
Facilities were affected in Vinnytsia, Zaporijjia, Kirovohrad, Poltava and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, according to national power grid operator Ukrenergo.
Lviv region governor Maksym Kozytskyi said two energy facilities had been hit.
The attack has “severely damaged” equipment for three of its thermal power plants, according to DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy supplier. The company’s facilities have been hit by five attacks over the past six weeks.
In the winter of 2022-2023, Russia had already targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The Tripilska thermal power station, located near Kyiv, was destroyed on April 11 by Russian bombing. It was one of the most important thermal power stations in the country.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, justified the attacks as retaliation for long-range Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
This Wednesday, according to authorities appointed by Moscow in the partially occupied Luhansk region, a Ukrainian attack hit an oil terminal.