“KYIV, April 11 (Reuters) – Ukrainian officials report Russian missiles and drones targeting power facilities across five regions in a significant attack on Thursday, intensifying pressure on the struggling energy system as Ukraine’s air defense capabilities diminish.”
According to a presidential aide, the strikes inflicted damage on facilities spanning from the Lviv region, near the Polish border, to the northeastern Kharkiv region, resulting in power outages for 200,000 people. This attack comes more than two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, escalating tensions and exacerbating the challenges faced by Ukraine’s embattled energy infrastructure.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasized the urgent need for air defense and other military support, criticizing prolonged discussions and inaction. He conveyed this message via the Telegram messaging app amid escalating tensions and attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure.
Kyiv’s pleas for urgent air defense supplies from Western allies have become increasingly desperate following Russia’s renewed long-range aerial attacks on the Ukrainian energy system last month. The assaults, targeting thermal and hydroelectric power plants, have raised concerns about the resilience of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which was already weakened by previous Russian air campaigns during the initial winter of the conflict.
U.S. ambassador Bridget Brink said 10 missiles struck critical infrastructure in the Kharkiv area alone.”The situation in Ukraine is dire; there is not a moment to lose,” she said.The region of Kharkiv, which borders Russia and already has long, rolling blackouts in place, was forced to cut electricity for 200,000 people, presidential aide Oleksiy Kuleba said.
