At least six people have died after Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, causing severe damage to electricity and water infrastructure.
As the BBC reports, missile and drone attacks hit more than half of the country’s regions, while explosions were heard in several cities, including Kiev, with residents flooding into shelters.
🟦 KYIV💛💙The people of the capital sang on the subway during the invasion:
«How can you not love, my Kyiv»💛💙
🎵🎶🎷🎸🎺#UkraineWar⚡🔥💥
🟧 KYIV💛💙Residents of the capital during the attack of the invaders sang in the… pic.twitter.com/j7mqjFrnbb
— WeSupportFreedom (@Support4Freedom) August 26, 2024
Kyiv! Just look at the number of people hiding in the subway during the russian attack. pic.twitter.com/uYlJEDRGJW
— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) August 26, 2024
What does the Russian Ministry of Defense say?
Russia confirmed that it had targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, a long-standing tactic, and said all of its targets had been achieved. The attacks began in the early hours of Monday and continued until the morning.
“This morning the armed forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massive attack with long-range precision weapons from the air and sea, as well as operational and tactical aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles against critical energy infrastructure facilities that support the work of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine” , it is stated in the announcement of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.
In an apparent reference to F-16 jets supplied to Ukraine from the West, the ministry said in its statement that Russia also hit storage facilities for aircraft munitions brought to Kiev from Western countries at two airports.
“All designated targets were hit, as a result of which the supply of electricity and the transport – by rail – of weapons and ammunition to the line of contact were interrupted,” the statement said.
Zelensky: One of the biggest attacks since the start of the war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of “one of the biggest attacks” in more than two and a half years of war, stating that “more than 100 missiles of various types and about 100 Shahed drones” were used for the attack.
Ukraine’s air force said it spotted dozens of missiles and drones targeting almost all areas of the country, from the eastern frontline regions of Kharkiv and Dnipro to the southern port city of Odesa, as well as the capital Kiev.
“Russian terrorists have once again targeted energy infrastructure,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Smykhal wrote on Telegram on Monday. At least 15 areas were targeted by a combination of drones, cruise missiles and Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, he also said.
What energy infrastructure was damaged?
Strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure have been part of the Russian military’s strategy since the beginning of this full-scale invasion, with Ukrainian officials saying the attacks are a coordinated effort to disrupt the power grid ahead of the winter months.
According to President Zelensky, the country’s energy sector has suffered “great damage”, with strikes to electricity infrastructure reported in 10 regions across Ukraine, from Rivne and Volyn in the northwest to Zaporizhia in the southeast.
Authorities in the capital say energy and water infrastructure were targeted, including a hydroelectric plant in the Kiev region, where a dam was destroyed. Russia’s defense ministry claims electricity substations in nine Ukrainian regions and natural gas compressor stations in three regions were hit.
Ukraine’s national electricity grid operator has been forced to carry out emergency blackouts to keep the system running, while even neighboring Moldova, whose electricity grid is connected to Ukraine’s grid, has reported minor grid disruptions her.
The energy facilities
Russia also said it targeted electricity and gas facilities, as well as Western weapons storage sites, adding that it caused power outages and disruptions to the transport of weapons and ammunition to the front.
At the same time, Zelensky called on Western allies, including Britain, America and France, to allow Ukraine to use their weapons to strike deeper into Russia. In addition, he noted that much more could be done to protect lives if European air forces cooperated with Ukrainian air defense.
On Monday, Ukraine attempted to attack an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, with no reports of casualties or damage. Also, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it destroyed nine drones in the Saratov region, 900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
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