Ukraine reports blackouts following Russian strikes
Russian forces have launched a series of strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in damage to several facilities and causing temporary blackouts, local officials have said. The Defense Ministry in Moscow has confirmed the attack, saying it targeted facilities that supported Kiev’s military efforts.
The attack was reported on Tuesday by Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko, who said the energy transmission system operator was forced to “urgently apply emergency electricity restrictions.” He did not provide any information on the damaged facilities.
Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state energy company, confirmed emergency power shutdowns due to the “massive missile attack,” adding that the restrictions will be lifted once the threat of airstrikes subsides and the situation is stabilized.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said the blackouts would not apply to residential consumers and critical infrastructure, as well as businesses that import more than 60% of their electricity.
Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-owned gas company, reported damage to its production facilities in Poltava Region in the northern part of the country, without providing further details. It added that there were no casualties. Local officials said a total of nine settlements in Mirgorod district were left without gas following the strikes.
In the border region of Kharkov, Russian forces launched several drone attacks, damaging power lines and transformers, leading to blackouts, Strana.ua reported. The Kharkov Regional Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Russian strikes damaged critical infrastructure and several building, but no casualties were reported.
The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed the attack, saying that the group strike using long-range, high-precision weapons and drones was aimed at gas and energy facilities used to support Ukraine’s defense industry, military airfields, and drone facilities.
Moscow has for months launched strikes against Ukrainian military installations, troop deployment areas, and energy infrastructure used to support the country’s defense industrial facilities, insisting that the attacks never target civilians. However, Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking its civilian infrastructure and residential areas, as well as oil processing plants across the country.
