Russia has launched a massive aerial attack on Ukraine’s embattled power grid, striking six energy facilities in the western region of Lviv. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the assault as one of the largest yet on the country’s energy system, which he says is a clear indication of why Kyiv needs more Western support before any peace with Russia.
According to Ukraine, Russia launched 93 missiles and nearly 200 drones during the attack, with air defenses intercepting 81 of the missiles. The full extent of the damage is still unclear, but officials confirm that multiple energy facilities have been damaged, including power substations and thermal power plants.
The attack has forced authorities to impose even longer electricity cuts for millions of civilians, especially in the region outside Kyiv, where power cuts were scheduled to last for 11 hours. The Ukrainian government has called for a strong Western response and more aid, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urging the delivery of air defense systems.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that five of Ukraine’s nine operating nuclear reactor units had reduced power output due to renewed attacks on energy infrastructure. One person received light injuries in the attack, while officials described it as a “cynical terrorist attack” aimed at breaking Ukrainian spirit.
Moscow claims its assault was retaliation for Ukraine using US-supplied missiles to attack a Russian military airfield this week. Russia says it does not target civilian infrastructure but sees the power system as a military target. The attack comes as Russian forces make their fastest battlefield gains in eastern Ukraine since 2022, and has sparked expectations of a push for negotiations to halt the war.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-launches-large-scale-missile-attack-ukraine-energy-facilities-kyiv-says-2024-12-13