Once again, Russia has launched a massive attack on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure using missiles and drones. Two thermal power plants were damaged. The attacks have had a noticeable impact on everyone in Ukraine.
During the night, the Russian army once again attacked the Ukrainian energy supply. Facilities in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporizhia were attacked, wrote Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko on Facebook. Civilian objects were also hit – in the town of Balakliya in the Kharkiv region alone, twelve people were injured when their homes were hit. According to the “Kyiv Independent”, at least 20 people were injured in total.
The largest private energy company, DTEK, reported that two thermal power plants had been hit. There was significant damage. The state energy network operator Urkenergo said that this was the sixth complex Russian wave of attacks since March that had targeted the civilian energy supply structure.
Conflicting parties as a source
In the current situation, information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian parties to the conflict cannot be directly verified by an independent source.
100 missiles deployed
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia used 53 rockets and cruise missiles as well as 47 drones. 31 rockets and cruise missiles as well as 46 of the 47 drones were destroyed.
Russia is said to have once again used its strategic bomber fleet for the attacks. Tu-95 aircraft launched the cruise missiles in the Saratov region or over the Caspian Sea, according to the Ukrainian armed forces. There, the aircraft are far outside the range of Ukrainian air defense.
The Tu-95 long-range bombers launch their missiles from a safe distance at targets in Ukraine. (Archive photo, 2015)
Nationwide Power outages in Ukraine
Since March, Russia has intensified its systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy supply. The aim is probably to break the will of the civilian population to resist and to destroy Ukraine's economic base. Due to the constant attacks, there are frequent widespread power outages.
According to Ukrainian sources, electricity capacity of around 8,000 megawatts has been destroyed in the past two years.
Electricity will become significantly more expensive
In response, electricity prices were drastically increased for the second time. “The aim is not to be left without electricity and to keep the system running,” said Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko on Friday, explaining the measure. Considerable funds are needed for repair work in damaged power plants, substations and high-voltage lines.
“Unfortunately, it is clear that the enemy will continue to attack energy facilities and we must use all possible resources,” said the minister. From today, the equivalent of just under ten cents per kilowatt hour will have to be paid.
