In another devastating attack, Russian forces have launched a series of strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in damage to several facilities and causing blackouts in Ukraine, officials say.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow has confirmed the attack, saying it targeted facilities that supported Kiev’s military forces. The attack was also confirmed by Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko, who said the energy transmission system operator was forced to “urgently apply emergency electricity restrictions.”
Russia has been pounding Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, especially targeting its power capabilities, last month Putin unleashed a missile blitz on regions in Poltava and Kharkiv damaging the energy capabilities of Kiev. Now once again Moscow has strategically destroyed Kiev’s set capabilities, this time causing massive blackouts.
Damage to Kiev
Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state energy company, confirmed emergency power shutdowns due to the “massive missile attack,” adding that the restrictions will be lifted once the threat of airstrikes subsides and the situation is stabilized.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said the blackouts would not apply to residential consumers and critical infrastructure, as well as businesses that import more than 60% of their electricity.
Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned gas company, reported damage to its production facilities in Poltava Region in the northern part of the country, without providing further details. It added that there were no casualties. Local officials said a total of nine settlements in Mirgorod district were left without gas following the strikes.
In the border region of Kharkov, Russian forces launched several drone attacks, damaging power lines and transformers, leading to blackouts, Strana.ua reported. The Kharkov Regional Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Russian strikes damaged critical infrastructure and several building, but no casualties were reported.
The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed the attack, saying that the group strike using long-range, high-precision weapons and drones was aimed at gas and energy facilities used to support Ukraine’s defense industry, military airfields, and drone facilities.
Moscow has for months launched strikes against Ukrainian military installations, troop deployment areas, and energy infrastructure used to support the country’s defense industrial facilities, insisting that the attacks never target civilians. However, Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking its civilian infrastructure and residential areas, as well as oil processing plants across the country.
Since Donald Trump’s election as US President there have been hopes that the Ukraine Russia clash will finally be resolved. However the statements from both sides still leaves a lot to be resolved. Russian President Putin has indicated that he will be inclined for talks to find a solution, but has labelled Zelensky an “illegal” President. On the other hand Zelensky has also given his affirmation for talks but has said that he will not be kind to “enemy” Putin.
It has been heavily rumoured that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will have a decisive meeting in the coming weeks to find a solution to the long drawn war. However until then, hostilities from both sides seem no closer to abating.
