Russian Airstrikes in Ukraine Cause Blackouts and Fatalities
The Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was the first of its kind on this scale in the previous three weeks. Across the nation, air raid alerts were sounded as the airstrikes knocked out power and affected residential areas.
At least five people were killed when Russia launched a massive missile attack across Ukraine, striking targets in the capital city of Kyiv, the second-largest city of Kharkiv, and the Black Sea port of Odesa.
The cities of Chernihiv, Dnipro, Lutsk, and Rivne, as well as the western Lviv region, came under fire, and Ukrainian media reported explosions in the western regions of Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil.
The Russian attack, which targeted the nation’s energy infrastructure as well as residential areas, was the first of its scale in three weeks.
During the dawn offensive, Russia reportedly launched 81 missiles and eight drones, according to the Ukrainian military.
The airstrikes triggered widespread blackouts and air raid sirens. It was unknown how many missiles hit targets or were intercepted despite the activation of defense systems.
The Lviv region’s governor, Maksym Kozytskyi, reported that four people were killed when a missile hit a residential area. After the strike, three buildings were destroyed by fire, and rescue workers were searching the rubble for additional victims, he said.
Governor Serhii Lysak reported that a fifth person was killed in multiple airstrikes that targeted energy infrastructure and industrial facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Officials reported that the capital was attacked with missiles and exploding drones, though many were intercepted. However, its energy infrastructure was damaged.
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Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Kyiv stated that explosions were reported in the Holosiivskyi district and that emergency services were en route.
“Objects of critical infrastructure are once again in the sights of the occupants,” said Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov in a Telegram post after 15 missiles struck the eastern Ukrainian city and the surrounding northeastern region, striking residential structures.
The city’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, reported “electricity problems” in certain areas of the city.
In the southern region of Odessa, residential and energy facilities were also damaged, according to the region’s governor, Maksym Marchenko.
He wrote on the Telegram messaging app, “The second wave is expected right now, so I urge residents to remain in shelters.”
Preventive emergency power outages were implemented in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Odesa, according to DTEK.
Additionally, Ukrainian Railways reported power outages in some areas.
The nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia was also targeted, according to Ukrainian officials.
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Energoatom said in a statement that the last connection between the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Ukrainian power grid had been severed.
It was also stated that the fifth and sixth reactors had been shut down and that the plant’s electrical needs were being met by 18 diesel generators with enough fuel for 10 days.
The nuclear power plant was seized by Russian forces at the outset of their invasion of Ukraine, and it remains under their control.
It is crucial to both sides of the Ukraine-Russia conflict from a strategic standpoint, but its ongoing stalemate has increased nuclear safety concerns.
The missile offensive occurred as Ukrainian forces defended the eastern mining town of Bakhmut against fierce Russian assaults.
On Facebook, the General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces stated, “The enemy continued its attacks and showed no sign of relenting in its assault on the city of Bakhmut.”
Our defenders successfully repelled attacks against Bakhmut and the surrounding communities.
In a late-Wednesday video address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the battle for Bakhmut and the surrounding Donbas region is “our top priority.”
The Wagner mercenary group of Russia asserted control over the eastern portion of Bakhmut.
Wagner completely controls everything east of the Bakhmutka River, Wagner leader and founder Yevgeny Prigozhin wrote on Telegram.
Russia would use Bakhmut as a stepping stone to advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, two larger cities it has long coveted in the Donetsk region.
