Ukraine has been the target of Russia’s most serious attacks on its energy grids.
Overnight on Friday, Russia launched its biggest attack since the start of the war. Missiles and drones struck the electric grid in at least four cities, leaving over a half-million people without power.
The attack targeted power supplies in Kharkiv in the east, Odesa on the coast, and Kryvyi Rh in the middle.
Ukraine has also struck an oil refinery in the Samara region near Belgorod. Dmitry Azarov, Governor of Samara, said that a drone attack on Novokuibyshevsk in the same area “was repelled without damaging the technology equipment.”
Ukraine’s biggest concern is the Dnipro River Hydroelectric Dam, which has been damaged by the attack.
CNN:
Ihor Syrota, CEO of Ukrhydroenergo (the site’s operator), said that both electricity-generating plants had suffered major damage. The exact date or time of their return to operation is not known.
Volodymyr Krytskyi is a senior Ukrainian energy executive who told the national TV network that there was no danger to the dam at this time.
Kudrytskyi said that the missile barrages and drone attacks were likely the largest single attack on Ukraine’s Energy System.
The Energy Industry Research Center in Kyiv said that this attack was the “most significant and well-planned attack on the energy sector since the start of the war.”
The attack against Ukraine was no mere blip. An attack on the refineries would cause a significant disruption in oil production. Russia is dependent on hard currency to pay its oil customers.
Moscow Times
He said: “We see that our enemy who is losing on the battlefield does everything to undermine the endurance and unity of the United States. ”
Separately, the Russian Defense Ministry released a press release stating that “12 Ukrainian Drones”, which border Ukraine, were destroyed overnight in the regions of Bryansk, Belgorod, and Saratov.
Over the past few weeks, Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy sites that it has been fighting for more than two years.
Ukraine and Russia are both engaged in a war attrition. The attacks on the grid will be a tit-for-tat match, and Russia will win.
But Ukraine cannot choose.
