(Kyiv) Russian strikes “severely” damaged three Ukrainian thermal power plants in the night from Thursday to Friday, injured six people and caused power cuts in certain regions, Ukrainian authorities said, accusing Moscow of “barbaric” attacks. against their energy network.
The Ukrainian air forces, for their part, said they had destroyed the vast majority of the 99 Russian missiles and drones – a particularly high number – launched during this new wave of night bombings.
Moscow has intensified its airstrikes against Ukraine in recent weeks, targeting the energy network in particular and saying it is acting in retaliation for Kyiv’s attacks in its border regions.
In total, ten regions across the country were targeted and six people, including a child, were injured, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said.
Three Ukrainian thermal power plants suffered significant damage after Russian fire, Ukrainian energy supplier DTEK said, without giving the location of these installations.
“The occupiers attacked three DTEK thermal power plants. The equipment was seriously damaged,” the company said in a statement, adding that its engineers had “quickly” reacted to deal with the damage.
“Massive attack”
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said that “Russia (had) continued its barbaric attacks against the Ukrainian energy system”. In some areas, the power had to be cut, he said, without specifying the extent of these cuts.
“Ukraine needs more air defense systems to secure its essential infrastructure and protect its population,” argued Mr. Chmygal.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko previously declared that a “massive attack” had particularly targeted energy production sites in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk (South-Central), Poltava (Central), and Cherkassy (Central).
UKRAINE EMERGENCY SERVICE PHOTO VIA REUTERS
A view of residential buildings damaged during a Russian missile and drone strike in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region, March 29.
The governor of Dnipropetrovk, Sergiy Lyssak, reported that “several energy installations” had been damaged in his region.
At the end of the morning, he announced that a civilian had been killed and a man injured in a drone attack in the town of Myrivska, near Nikolpol, adding that shots had been hitting this area since the morning.
In the Donetsk region (east), another woman died in a Russian air attack in Mykolaivka which heavily damaged around thirty homes, a market and an administrative building, Ukrainian police announced.
Kyiv is calling on its Western allies to send it more aid, and faster. But, in Brussels as in Washington, political divisions have hampered the delivery of arms and the sending of funds in recent months.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian officials have particularly insisted on sending more Patriot batteries. This powerful and expensive anti-aircraft system was first supplied to Ukraine in spring 2023.
“Intense aerial activity”
The Ukrainian air forces said Friday they had destroyed “84 aerial targets,” including 26 missiles and 58 Iranian-made Shahed drones.
In total, Russia launched 99, mostly drones, during this “powerful” air attack, Ukrainian forces said.
The Russian army launches missiles or drones against its neighbor’s territory almost every night, but their number is generally lower.
The Polish military reported increased surveillance of its airspace, days after a Russian missile fired towards towns in western Ukraine flew over Polish territory for 39 seconds.
“Overnight, intense long-range aerial activity by the Russian Federation was observed, linked to missile strikes against targets on Ukrainian territory,” the Polish army command said in a statement.
“All necessary procedures for the protection of Polish airspace have been taken,” and Polish forces “are continuously monitoring the situation,” the statement added.
reference: www.lapresse.ca