By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Widespread Power Outages Reported Amid Escalating Conflict
Ukrainian energy facilities have come under a massive attack from Russia in the latest onslaught targeting the country's power grid, officials report. This marks the eighth time Russia has launched an attack on energy infrastructure facilities in the past three months, according to Ukraine’s energy ministry.
Air defense systems intercepted 12 of 16 missiles and all 13 drones launched by Russia at several regions through the night, the Ukrainian air force stated. Later on Saturday, officials in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine reported three fatalities and at least 18 injuries caused by Russian guided bombs, with at least four explosions heard in the city.
“This is one more terrorist attack, a precise attack on civilian infrastructure. There is nothing of military interest in this district," Kharkiv's regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said.
The overnight attacks on infrastructure injured two energy workers in the central Zaporizhzhia region and damaged equipment in the western city of Lviv, officials added. In the southwestern region of Ivano Frankivsk, authorities also reported damage to houses and a kindergarten.
Russia has renewed its campaign of strikes on Ukrainian energy targets over spring and early summer, causing frequent blackouts across the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently noted that Moscow had destroyed half of Ukraine’s electricity generating capacity since it began targeting its energy facilities in late March.
On Thursday, Ukrainian authorities reported that seven employees were wounded and energy infrastructure, including a power station, had been damaged in a major overnight attack. Although Ukraine is buying energy from the European Union, it is insufficient to cover the deficit. Consequently, planned nationwide blackouts are implemented to protect critical infrastructure such as hospitals and military facilities.
"We urgently need to close our skies or Ukraine faces a serious crisis this winter," said Maxim Timchenko, chief executive of DTEK, one of Ukraine's largest private energy companies. "My plea to allies is to help us defend our energy system and rebuild in time.”
President Zelensky has repeatedly called on Ukraine's allies to send more air defense systems. He has specifically requested seven sophisticated air defense systems called Patriots from the US. Echoing Mr. Zelensky's message, Ivan Fedorov, Zaporizhzhia's governor, posted on Telegram, "We can say for sure, the enemy will not stop. Ukraine needs air defense systems."
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated on Thursday that Washington would prioritize Ukraine for Patriot deliveries, ahead of other countries that have ordered them.