Kyiv, April 12, 2024 – A devastating onslaught of missiles and drones launched by Russia obliterated one of Ukraine’s major power plants, officials disclosed on Thursday, marking a renewed assault on the nation’s energy infrastructure. The Trypilska plant, a crucial energy source for the Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Zhytomyr regions, bore the brunt of the assault, sustaining severe damage to its transformer, turbines, and generators, igniting a blazing inferno.
According to Andrii Gota, chairman of the supervisory board of the state-run plant operator Centrenergo, workers narrowly escaped harm by taking refuge in shelters as the initial drone approached. Witnessing the facility engulfed in flames amidst thick smoke, Gota described the scene as “terrifying.” Rescue efforts persisted for hours as responders worked to clear the rubble.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking from Moscow, justified the attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian oil refineries.
Despite the destruction, power supply to 3 million consumers remained intact, as the grid compensated for the loss, given the current low demand. However, the ramifications of the strikes loom large, particularly with the impending rise in air conditioning usage during the summer months.
Overnight assaults also inflicted damage on energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, leaving over 200,000 residents without power. Described by Ukraine’s largest private energy operator, DTEK, as one of the most formidable attacks this year, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko characterized the onslaught as a “large scale, enormous, missile attack” severely impacting the energy sector.
Russia’s intensified strikes on Ukrainian energy assets, including last month’s blackout that plunged vast swathes of the country into darkness, have raised alarm among defenders and spurred urgent efforts to bolster defenses and enhance repair capabilities. Ukraine’s calls for additional air defense systems have encountered delays, leaving the nation vulnerable to further attacks.
“The current situation underscores the urgency of reinforcing our defenses against missile threats,” remarked Gota, underscoring the pressing need for enhanced security measures amidst escalating hostilities.
