KYIV, Ukraine — Russia attacked electrical power facilities in much of Ukraine, including the country’s largest hydroelectric plant, causing widespread outages and killing at least three people, officials said Friday.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko said the nighttime drone and rocket attacks were “the largest attack on the Ukrainian energy sector in recent times. The goal is not just to damage, but to try again, like last year, to cause a large-scale disruption of the country’s energy system.”
The attacks caused a fire at the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station, which supplies electricity to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power installation.
The main 750-kilovolt power line to the plant was cut off, International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi said early Friday. A lower-power backup line was working, he said.
The plant is occupied by Russian troops, and fighting around the plant has been a constant concern because of the potential for a nuclear accident.
The dam at the hydroelectric station was not in danger of breaching, the country’s hydroelectric authority said. A dam breach could not only disrupt supplies to the nuclear plant but would potentially cause severe flooding similar to what occurred last year when a major dam at Kakhovka further down the Dnieper collapsed.
One person was killed and at least eight injured in the Russian attack, said Zaporizhzhia regional governor Ivan Fedorov.
Attacks on energy facilities in the Kharkiv region caused blackouts, and other attacks were reported in areas of western Ukraine far from the front lines. Two people died in the Khmelnytskyi region, according to the Internal Affairs Ministry.
“The world sees the targets of Russian terrorists as clearly as possible: power plants and energy supply lines, a hydroelectric dam, ordinary residential buildings, even a trolleybus. Russia is fighting against the ordinary life of people,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday on the Telegram messaging app.
Russian officials said Friday that one person died and at least three were injured in Ukrainian shelling of areas near the border.
The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said a woman was killed when a shell hit nearby while she was walking her dogs and that two others were injured. The town of Tetkino in the Kursk region was shelled, injuring one person, said Gov. Roman Starovoit.
Both regions have been subject to shelling and drone attacks in recent weeks and officials have said that attempts by Ukrainian fighters to cross into Russian territory have been repelled.
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Heintz reported from Tallinn, Estonia.
In recent years, tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated to dangerous levels, with military forces from both countries engaging in various forms of conflict. One particularly concerning development is the targeting of Ukrainian electrical power facilities by Russian military forces.
These attacks on critical infrastructure have had devastating consequences for the people of Ukraine, leading to widespread power outages and disruptions to daily life. The targeting of electrical power facilities not only poses a threat to the safety and well-being of civilians but also has serious implications for the country’s economy and national security.
The Russian military’s targeting of Ukrainian electrical power facilities is a strategic move aimed at weakening the country’s infrastructure and destabilizing its government. By disrupting the flow of electricity, Russia can create chaos and sow fear among the Ukrainian population, making it easier for them to exert control over the region.
In addition to the immediate impact on civilians, these attacks also have long-term consequences for Ukraine’s ability to recover and rebuild. The destruction of electrical power facilities can take months or even years to repair, leaving communities without access to essential services such as heating, lighting, and communication.
Furthermore, the targeting of electrical power facilities is a violation of international law and norms of warfare. Deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure is a war crime and should be condemned by the international community. The United Nations and other organizations have called for an end to these attacks and for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions.
In response to these attacks, the Ukrainian government has called for increased support from its allies and partners in order to defend against further aggression from Russia. The United States and other Western countries have provided military assistance and aid to help Ukraine strengthen its defenses and protect its critical infrastructure.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, it is crucial for the international community to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and condemn these attacks on civilian infrastructure. The targeting of electrical power facilities not only poses a threat to the people of Ukraine but also undermines the principles of international law and human rights. It is imperative that all parties involved work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
