Russia pounds Ukrainian energy facilities with missile and drone barrage

Russian forces launched a widespread missile and drone attack across Ukraine, damaging energy infrastructure in five regions, according to Ukrainian officials.

The national grid operator, Ukrenergo, reported strikes on facilities in Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

Ukrainian air defense shot down 35 of 53 missiles and 46 of 47 drones. Russia’s defense ministry claimed the strikes targeted energy facilities supporting Ukraine’s military and Western-supplied weapon depots.

This marks the sixth major attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since March, severely impacting thermal and hydropower generation and leading to blackouts, Al Jazeera reports.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, reported serious damage to two thermal power plants. No casualties were immediately reported, though fires were being extinguished at several sites.

Written by B.C. Begley