Ukraine’s armed forces on Friday reported a major attack by Moscow on the country’s energy infrastructure. The attack involved a coordinated strike of 99 drones and missiles targeting 10 different Ukrainian regions, according to Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. The multiple missile attacks on Kyiv that damaged energy facilities nationwide, were allegedly in response to Ukraine’s earlier aerial assaults near the Russian border in Belgorod. Such sudden attacks have been carried out since the beginning of the war.
Eariler attempts on destroying Ukraine’s energy network
In the winter of 2022-23, Russia focused on disrupting Ukraine’s energy network, leading to frequent power outages. There were concerns that Russia might employ similar tactics again this winter, but instead, it concentrated its strikes on Ukraine’s defense industries.
Ukraine’s state-owned grid operator, Ukrenergo, stated that Friday’s assault specifically targeted thermal and hydroelectric power plants in central and western regions. DTEK, the largest private electricity operator in Ukraine, reported damage to three of its thermal power plants in the attack.
Falling debris causes damage to infrastructure
Romania’s defense ministry announced an investigation into fragments resembling drone debris found in an agricultural area of Braila county near the Ukrainian border on Thursday evening. This discovery adds to a series of similar incidents since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with NATO member Romania frequently detecting drone remnants on its territory.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defence disclosed that Belgorod was also targeted on Friday. It claimed to have intercepted 15 Ukrainian shells, with falling debris causing damage to residential buildings. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
(With AP Inputs)