More than a million households in Ukraine were plunged into darkness after a widespread Russian aerial assault targeted critical energy infrastructure facilities, authorities confirmed on Thursday. This marks the 11th large-scale attack on Ukraine's energy supplies by Russia this year alone, resulting in nationwide rolling blackouts.
The bombardments have escalated in recent months, posing a significant threat to Ukraine as the conflict enters its third winter. Russian President Vladimir Putin justified the assault as a response to alleged Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using US-made ATACMS missiles.
Ukraine's Energy Minister reported that the country's energy system came under a 'massive enemy attack' overnight, affecting regions across the country. Emergency power cuts were implemented initially, with significant outages in western regions like Lviv, Volyn, and Rivne. The energy operator has since resorted to scheduled hourly power cuts to manage the situation.
At least five people were injured in various regions, with reports of a missile hitting a civilian business in Kharkiv. Air defenses were activated nationwide, resulting in damage across 14 regions. Residents in Kyiv sought shelter in metro stations during the prolonged air raid alert, which lasted over nine hours due to a combined missile and drone attack.
Residents shared their experiences of the attacks, with one individual from Lutsk describing hearing explosions followed by a power outage. Another resident expressed surprise at the attack reaching their region, highlighting the growing intensity of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that the assault involved approximately 100 drones and over 90 missiles. This follows a recent mass drone attack that damaged critical infrastructure in western Ukraine.
Zelensky emphasized the urgent need for enhanced air defense systems in Ukraine to protect lives and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Putin defended Russia's actions, claiming to have targeted military and defense facilities in response to alleged Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.
The ongoing conflict underscores the escalating tensions between the two nations, with both sides justifying their military actions as retaliatory measures. The impact of these attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure continues to raise concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region.
