Ukraine says Russian drone and missile strikes damaged power facilities

Russian missiles and drones struck thermal and hydroelectric power plants in central and western Ukraine, grid operator Ukrenergo said on Friday, the latest attack on the country’s already damaged power infrastructure.

“During the night, the Russians again launched a large-scale coordinated attack on energy facilities,” Ukrenago said on the Telegram messaging app.

“Thermal and hydroelectric plants were damaged across the Midwest.”

Regional officials said Russian forces attacked infrastructure in the Kamensk region near the city of Dnipro. At least one person was injured, they added.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushenko also said that power facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava and Cherkasy regions were attacked.

“Power generation facilities are being targeted by drones and missiles,” Grushchenko said on Facebook.

Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal later said in a statement that energy facilities in six regions of Ukraine had been attacked. He said Ukraine needed more air defense systems to secure critical infrastructure and protect the population.

The Ukrainian military said its air force destroyed 58 of a total of 60 Russian-launched attack drones and 26 of 39 missiles overnight.

“The enemy launched powerful missile and air strikes against Ukraine’s fuel and energy sector, using various types of missiles and attack drones,” the commander said.

Reuters could not independently verify the report.

Ukrainian television said explosions were heard in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytsky regions and the city of Dnipro after Russian cruise missiles were discovered in Ukrainian airspace.

DTEK, NAFTOGAZ in trouble

DTEK, the largest private power company, said three of its thermal power plants were attacked.

“The equipment is severely damaged,” it said on Telegram. “Immediately after the attack, electrical engineers began repairing the damage.”

Ukrainian electricity distributor Yasno said this week that DTEK had lost about half its production capacity following Russian missile and drone attacks.

Ukraine’s state-owned Naftogaz oil and gas company also said its facilities were attacked on Friday morning.

“(The Russian attack) targeted facilities of the Naftogaz group but did not cause serious damage,” the company said in a statement, without providing further details.

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