Russia launched a coordinated missile and drone attack on Saturday, targeting energy facilities and critical infrastructure across Ukraine. The attack, which marks the sixth major assault on Ukraine’s power sector since March, caused significant damage and injured at least four people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a renewed plea for more air defense support following the strikes.
The Ukrainian national grid operator, Ukrenergo, reported that energy facilities in the east, center, and west of the country were damaged. Despite Ukraine’s air force intercepting 35 of the 53 Russian missiles and 46 of the 47 attack drones, the assault severely impacted the nation’s already fragile energy system. Emergency power shutdowns were implemented across most regions of Ukraine on Sunday, affecting both industrial and household consumers.
The Ukrainian power grid has been under constant strain from sustained Russian attacks, leading to nationwide rolling blackouts. The latest assault exacerbates the existing power shortages, with the potential for further deterioration as energy demands increase in late summer and winter. Authorities reported that the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant, a crucial energy facility, is now in “critical condition” and unable to produce electricity after being hit by Russian strikes.
🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation heavily damaged, if not destroyed, two more thermal power plants, including other energy facilities, overnight in five regions of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/KjWDXwsIdm
— dana (@dana916) June 1, 2024
In response to the energy crisis, President Zelensky emphasized the urgent need for additional air defense systems, including Patriot missiles and modern air defense systems, to protect Ukraine’s infrastructure and citizens. He also called for accelerated and expanded F-16 deliveries to bolster the country’s defense capabilities.
The missile and drone attacks on Saturday targeted multiple regions, including Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk. These strikes were part of Russia’s broader strategy to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The Ministry of Energy warned of a “significant power shortage” as a consequence of these repeated assaults.
Additionally, Russian forces claimed to have captured the village of Umanske in the Donetsk region, further intensifying the conflict. The strikes have not only caused immediate damage but have also complicated repair efforts, with Ukraine facing ongoing challenges in restoring power and maintaining stability in the energy sector.
Ukraine’s largest private energy-generating company, DTEK, reported serious damage to its thermal power plants. In a related incident, six people were injured in the Russian city of Shebekino, and three others were injured in the Kursk region due to explosive devices dropped from drones.
In the wake of these developments, President Zelensky, attending a summit in Singapore, accused Russia of attempting to disrupt a forthcoming peace summit and urged countries in the Asia-Pacific region to support Ukraine. He also thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for permitting Ukraine to use American munitions for limited strikes within Russian territory but stressed that more support is needed.
Ukraine’s energy crisis is compounded by its reliance on Western military aid, which has faced delays. Russian bombardments have significantly damaged Ukraine’s thermal and hydropower generation capacity, leading to blackouts and increased electricity imports. The Ukrainian government has nearly doubled consumer electricity tariffs to fund extensive repairs and plans record electricity imports to meet demand.
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