Ukraine is grappling with widespread power outages affecting a million people after Russian missile strikes targeted the nation’s energy facilities.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, is entirely without electricity, alongside over 53,000 households in Odesa. Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko has accused Russia of attempting to trigger a major collapse of Ukraine’s energy grid, a claim Russia justifies as retaliation for Ukrainian assaults on its territory.
The assault has resulted in at least five deaths and 14 injuries. President Volodymyr Zelensky argues that the attacks underscore the need for increased military support from Western allies, including more air defense systems. He highlighted the urgency of assistance, contrasting it with the promptness of Russian missile attacks, which included around 90 missiles and 60 Shahed drones in the latest offensive.
Significant damage was reported at the DniproHES in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine’s largest dam, which was struck eight times. Despite the dam being set ablaze, officials have assured there is no imminent risk of breach. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost its main power connection due to the strikes, underscoring the ongoing nuclear safety risks amidst the conflict.
The attacks also devastated several buildings in Zaporizhzhia and hit critical infrastructure in Kryvyi Rih and Vinnytsia. Russia claims these attacks are part of a series of retaliatory strikes for Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory.
This recent wave of aggression follows one of the largest air strikes on Kyiv in weeks, injuring at least 17 people, including a child. Russia’s strategy of targeting Ukraine’s power infrastructure has been ongoing since 2022, resulting in significant hardships for millions of Ukrainians during the colder months.
Volodymyr Kudrytsky, head of the Ukrainian grid operator, described the recent attacks as unprecedentedly severe, with Kharkiv experiencing attempts to obliterate its main energy supplies. The White House has condemned the attacks and reiterated calls for urgent defensive aid to Ukraine. This month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for two Russian commanders, accusing them of orchestrating attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
