Ukrainian repair crews have intensified their efforts following one of the most severe Russian assaults on the nation’s energy infrastructure, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack, which took place overnight into Saturday, involved hundreds of drones targeting energy facilities across the country, significantly escalating the ongoing conflict.
In his evening address, Zelensky indicated that repair crews are working tirelessly, nearly around the clock, in many regions affected by the strikes. “Restoration efforts are ongoing, and although the situation is difficult, thousands of people are involved in stabilizing the system and repairing the damage,” he noted.
The northeastern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy, along with central Poltava, faced some of the most significant challenges during this crisis. In Kharkiv alone, approximately 100,000 people were left without electricity, water, and heating, as highlighted by Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. Local authorities reported that while power in Poltava was primarily restored by Sunday, damaged infrastructure continued to leave parts of its main city in darkness.
As a precautionary measure, scheduled power cuts, implemented by the state grid operator Ukrenergo to manage the electrical supply, will persist in most regions through Monday. This move reflects the ongoing challenges in restoring normalcy to the energy grid following the extensive damage inflicted by the recent attacks.
Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk characterized the night of the assaults as one of the most challenging for Ukraine’s energy sector since Russia began its invasion in February 2022, which has largely focused on targeting the power and heating infrastructure critical for civilian life.
The nature of the attacks has evolved, with Moscow strategically hitting both power generation facilities and transmission systems, complicating the restoration of services. Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov remarked that this change in tactics has made it more difficult to quickly restore normal power supplies and operational efficiency within the energy system.
Zelensky emphasized that Russian forces have escalated their offensive capabilities by employing a greater number of ballistic missiles, marking a significant shift in their approach to targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
Moscow’s defense ministry claimed their strikes aimed at crippling the Ukrainian military-industrial complex alongside energy facilities that support its operations. In response, Ukraine has taken action against Russian energy and oil infrastructure, resulting in significant outages for over 20,000 individuals in several border regions of Russia.
In Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported severe damage to the electricity and heating supply networks, affecting multiple streets and leaving over 20,000 residents without power. Furthermore, power plant fires in the western Kursk region and a heating facility blaze in the southern Voronezh region highlight the cross-border repercussions of the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, reports surfaced from Russia’s defense ministry claiming the interception of 44 drones over the Bryansk region, amid an assertion that they launched 69 drones against Ukraine’s energy facilities that night, with Ukrainian air force statistics indicating that 34 of these were downed. The cycle of attacks and counterattacks underscores the deteriorating situation on both sides as the conflict shows no signs of abating.
