DTEK, the country’s largest private energy company, said that Russia targeted thermal power plants and caused “serious damage” during the mass strike on the country’s electricity grid on November 17.

Russia targeted energy facilities Russia launched nearly 120 missiles and 90 drones, marking one of the heaviest attacks on Ukraine’s power grid during the entire large-scale war.

In its statement, the company said, “DTEK thermal power plants were attacked. According to preliminary data, there was no loss of life.” he said. expression. The location of the power stations was not specified, probably for security reasons.

While the energy equipment was severely damaged, DTEK employees started repair work after the attack ended. The company says this is the eighth mass attack on energy facilities this year.

“In total, since the beginning of the large-scale occupation, DTEK thermal power plants have been fired upon more than 190 times,” the energy operator said.

According to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, Russia targeted “power production and transmission facilities throughout Ukraine.”

“The transmission system operator urgently implemented emergency shutdowns,” Halushchenko said. in question. Damage to energy infrastructure facilities was reported in Volyn and Vinnytsia oblasts.

Authorities warning Russia may continue strikes on the energy grid as temperatures drop, mirroring the strategy used in the spring and summer of this year and the autumn-winter season of 2022-2023.

Minister Volodymyr Zelensky Past Russian attacks have destroyed all of Ukraine’s thermal power plants and nearly all of its hydroelectric capacity, he said in September. Ukrainian authorities and energy companies are repairing and strengthening energy facilities in anticipation of new attacks.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) reportAs a result of the attacks, Ukraine’s electricity shortage could reach 6 gigawatts this winter; This is approximately one-third of expected peak demand. This summer, when Kiev was already experiencing long outages, the power outage was 2.5 GW.

Kiev suffers first mass attack in 2 months as Russia launches drones and missiles at Ukraine

Russia launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine on the night of November 17. Kiev Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said that an apartment on the fourth floor of a five-storey residential building in the Pechersk district caught fire as a result of falling drone debris. Two people were injured in the city.