As the Ukraine-Russia war enters its fourth winter, Moscow stepped up attacks on energy infrastructure in Kiev on Friday, crippling the power grid and leaving thousands in the dark.
The attack on power plants and facilities led to power outages in several regions, further risking heating blackouts ahead of the winter months.
“Russian strikes have once again targeted people’s daily lives. They have deprived communities of electricity, water and heating, destroyed critical infrastructure and damaged rail networks,” Reuters reported, citing Foreign Minister Andrije Sybiga.
Reconstruction Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said the power outage affected train services.
Prime Minister Julia Svyrydenko said that the emphasis was on the rapid restoration of heat and light, and efforts were underway to eliminate the consequences for the country.
Energy company Naftogaz said the attack was the ninth massive attack on gas infrastructure since early October.
All power plants are out of operation, restoration work is underway
Ukraine’s state energy company Centrenergo said all thermal power plants (TPPs) operated by the company, which were restored after the 2024 attacks, are out of service, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Centrenergo said in a statement on Facebook that restoration work was continuing after the overnight strike.
“Unprecedented number of missiles and countless drones – several per minute – aimed at the same thermal plants that we restored after the devastating attack in 2024. Due to security measures, we kept quiet, but we did everything to keep Ukrainians light and warm last winter, and we went through hellish trials to successfully start the current heating season!”
The company went on to say that repair crews are doing everything possible and necessary to remove the aftermath of the attack as soon as possible, saying, “We will do our best to restore the destroyed as soon as possible!”
“Currently, energy production is at zero. Zero. We have lost what we have been continuously rebuilding. Totally! But we will continue to do what we do best, overcome the fatigue and pain of loss – rebuild, repair and implement a new generation!”
Drones neutralized
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian defense forces had neutralized more than 400 drones overnight and some missiles had also been shot down.
“Only a few systems in the world are capable of effectively intercepting such missiles – and to protect our entire territory, we need many more of these systems and missiles for them.”
The Ukrainian president further stated that they are working with the United States to purchase more Patriots and we are counting on their support.
“In Dnieper, a Russian drone attacked a residential building directly; it is currently known that three people died in the city. Unfortunately, there was also a death in Kharkiv,” Zelensky’s Reuters agency quoted him as saying.
