Overnight on January 14, Russian forces launched a significant attack on infrastructure in Kryvyi Rih, impacting over 45,000 electricity subscribers and leaving over 700 buildings without heat. The attack prompted the city’s water utility pumps to switch to emergency generators, resulting in lower water pressure. Despite the challenges, emergency crews were able to restore power to all affected customers by 7:30 a.m. local time, and the city’s municipal services were quickly brought back online. This attack follows similar strikes on energy facilities across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, where thousands have been left without heat amidst a severe cold front.
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Recent Russian air strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have left over a million people in the south-eastern region without heat and water, prompting President Zelensky to call for increased Western support. The attacks, targeting crucial infrastructure, are part of a broader strategy aimed at crippling power supplies during the harsh winter. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, has been struggling to recover from the frequent attacks, leading to lengthy power cuts. Zelensky has been on a diplomatic tour, seeking guarantees from allies, while also participating in ongoing peace negotiations which have included discussions on territorial concessions with Russia.
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Russia attacks Ukraine’s energy facilities on Christmas night, blackouts in five regions — Energy Ministry, and it’s a chilling reminder of the ongoing conflict’s brutal reality. The news itself is stark: energy infrastructure, vital for keeping homes warm and lit, has been deliberately targeted on a day meant for peace and celebration. Five regions – Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Odesa – are now enduring blackouts, plunging communities into darkness and disrupting daily life. The Energy Ministry’s announcement underscores the severity of the situation, confirming the deliberate nature of the attacks.
The timing of these strikes, on Christmas night, is particularly jarring.… Continue reading
Multiple explosions were reported on December 13th at various sites within Russia and occupied Crimea, including an oil depot near Simferopol, a chemical plant in Veliky Novgorod, and several energy sites. Reports indicate drone strikes targeted an oil depot near Uryupinsk, Volgograd Oblast, and a power station in Smolensk. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the attacks, however, Ukraine has previously targeted Russian military and energy infrastructure, which is considered a critical source of funding for the ongoing war. These recent events follow confirmed drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, highlighting Ukraine’s efforts to diminish Moscow’s fighting capabilities.
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Reports from Russian Telegram channels indicate Ukraine’s military struck the Shatura Thermal Power Plant in Moscow Oblast overnight on November 23rd. Social media posts purportedly show a large explosion and fire at the plant, though these reports are unverified by The Kyiv Independent. The attack occurred approximately 120 kilometers east of Moscow, following reports of two Ukrainian drones being shot down en route to the capital and temporary airport closures. This incident aligns with Ukraine’s strategy of targeting Russian infrastructure, particularly energy facilities, as the war continues.
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The recent wave of Russian missile and drone attacks has inflicted significant damage on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, impacting all major thermal and hydroelectric power plants. This has resulted in a substantial decrease in electricity generation capacity, while consumer demand remains high. Consequently, all available power is being allocated solely for domestic consumption, leading to emergency power cuts in several regions. Furthermore, the IAEA confirmed that Ukrainian nuclear power plants have been forced to reduce electricity production due to the attacks, highlighting the severity of the situation.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the US has largely exhausted its options for imposing new sanctions on Russia, having already targeted major oil companies. The focus will now shift to enforcing existing sanctions, particularly addressing Russia’s “shadow fleet” of vessels used to circumvent oil restrictions, with a call for greater European involvement in this effort. Rubio also commented on the ongoing conflict, stating Russia’s objectives and the missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Finally, the US is in talks with Ukraine to stabilize its energy grid, discussing the provision of equipment and defensive weapons, while acknowledging the challenges of protecting such infrastructure from destruction.
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On November 8, Ukrainian attacks in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast resulted in over 20,000 people losing power, impacting Belgorod city and the village of Dubove. Russian reports, citing MLRS attacks, indicate damage to a local thermal power plant and fires in multiple garages. Concurrently, a strike in Russia’s Kursk Oblast caused an electrical substation fire and subsequent power outages. These events followed a Russian mass drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which led to widespread damage and emergency power cuts in Kyiv and other cities.
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Following “the largest Russian attack,” all thermal power plants operated by Ukraine’s state-owned energy company Centrenergo were taken offline. The attack targeted plants previously damaged and restored, with multiple drones targeting them. Despite Ukrainian forces downing a significant number of drones and missiles, the strikes destroyed all restored capacity, leaving the plants generating no power. This marks a renewed offensive by Russia to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and potentially disrupt the upcoming winter season.
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On November 6, a drone attack caused explosions and a fire at the Kostroma State District Power Plant (GRES), one of Russia’s largest energy facilities, located in the Kostroma region. Despite the regional governor claiming that Russian air defenses repelled the attack, residents reported multiple explosions and visible flames. The plant, which supplies electricity to much of central Russia, has a significant installed capacity and a very tall smokestack. Also on November 6, Ukrainian forces conducted a successful strike on a Shahed drone storage and launch complex at the occupied Donetsk airport.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood