Russia Strikes Ukraine's Power Grid, Injuring 19 in Fresh Attack

Photo : AP

In a devastating assault, Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, resulting in at least 19 reported injuries, according to local officials in Kyiv. The Ukrainian military reported a significant defensive success, downing 35 out of 53 missiles and 46 out of 47 attack drones launched at various targets across the country overnight on June 1.

Reports of injuries emerged from multiple regions, including the western Lviv and central Dnipropetrovsk regions. In the Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov stated that twelve individuals, including eight children, were hospitalized following a strike near two residential houses where they had sought shelter.

These attacks represent a continuation of Russia's sustained assault on Ukraine's power grid, ongoing since March. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy firm, reported serious damage to two of its power plants, marking the sixth attack on the company's facilities in the past two and a half months.

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Ukraine's Energy Minister, Herman Halushchenko, highlighted the widespread targeting of energy infrastructure in regions including Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The relentless damage inflicted on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in recent weeks has compelled the country's leaders to implement nationwide rolling blackouts. With inadequate air defenses hindering repair efforts, the situation may worsen, especially as energy demands rise during the late summer and harsh winter months.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for additional air defense systems from Western allies in response to the attacks. He underscored Russia's relentless assault on civilians, infrastructure, and energy facilities, calling for increased support, including the provision of modern air defense systems and the expedited delivery of F-16 fighter jets.

Amid the ongoing conflict, casualties were also reported in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, where five civilians lost their lives and three others sustained injuries due to Ukrainian shelling, as confirmed by Denis Pushilin, the region's Moscow-installed leader.

Additionally, the Russian Defence Ministry announced the downing of two Ukrainian drones over Russia's Belgorod region, although no casualties were reported in this incident.