Russia is “going all the way” in its attempt to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, following the second massive attack launched in less than a week, declared on January 13th the Deputy Minister of Energy, Mikola Kolisnîk.
“Today, the enemy launched an attack within a maximum interval of five days from the previous one… we see that the enemy is going all-in, using all forces and means to destroy the energy system”, said Kolisnîk, quoted by Kyiv Independent.
Approximately 70% of Kiev was left without electricity after a new massive Russian attack on the night of January 13th. Ukrenergo, the state operator of the power grid, reported that Moscow’s forces aim at “disconnecting the city”.
The attack comes at a time when Ukraine is already facing chronic power outages, amid extremely low temperatures, which could drop to -22 degrees Celsius in the coming days. It is the second major attack on civilian infrastructure in just four days.
“The Russians are trying to disconnect the city”
The suburbs of Kiev – Bucha, Hostomel, and Irpin – were left without electricity and running water following the Russian strikes, according to preliminary information. Also, emergency power supply interruptions have been introduced in most of Kiev and the Kiev region, announced Ukrenergo.
“The Russians are trying to disconnect the city and force people to leave (Kiev)”, the general director of Ukrenergo, Vitali Zaicenko, told Kyiv Independent, noting that several substations were hit during the night and that “70% of Kiev is without electricity”. “We have information that Russia is prepared to launch a new wave of cruise missile attacks”, he added.
DTEK, the largest private energy company in Ukraine, announced that a thermal power plant was attacked again, and the equipment was damaged. Company representatives emphasized that this is the eighth attack on its thermal power plants since October last year.
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