‘Massive attack’ from Russia targets power grid across Ukraine
RUSSIAN forces unleashed a nighttime barrage of more than 50 cruise missiles and explosive drones at Ukraine’s power grid, targeting a wide area in what President Volodymyr Zelensky called a “massive” attack.
The bombardment on Wednesday blasted targets in seven Ukrainian regions, including the Kyiv area and parts of the south and west, damaging homes and the country’s rail network, authorities said.
Three people, including an eightyear-old girl, were injured, according to officials.
Russia has repeatedly pounded Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the war that is stretching into its third year and has claimed thousands of lives.
By taking out the power, the Kremlin’s forces aim to rob Ukrainian manufacturing of its energy supply, especially military plants, and crush public morale.
The mass barrages also drain Ukrainian air defences of ammunition as Kyiv’s depleted forces await delivery of the latest batch of promised Western military support.
Ukrainian officials have been pleading for more Nato-standard air defence systems, such as Patriots.
Russia pummelled Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the “blackout winter” of 2022-23.
In March, it launched a new wave of attacks, one of which completely destroyed the Trypilska power plant near Kyiv, one of the country’s biggest.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed the attacks as retaliation for Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries.
On Wednesday, a Ukrainian attack hit an oil terminal, injuring five workers and starting a fire, Russia-appointed authorities in the partially occupied Luhansk region said.
Russian bombardments, though frequent, have become less regular in recent weeks, and Ukrainian officials suspect Moscow is stockpiling resources ahead of a major battlefield offensive.
The 1,000-kilometre (600 mile) front line has changed little since the early months of the war, but Russia has recently made small but steady gains in some areas as Ukraine battles with a lack of manpower and a shortage of weapons.
Mr Zelensky noted that Wednesday’s attacks occurred on the day that Ukraine observes the end of the second world war in Europe and equated Ukraine’s current struggle with that conflict.