Russian missiles pound Ukraine's embattled energy system

A firefighter works at a compound of power infrastructure facilities, which was hit by Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine April 11, 2024. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS

By Tom Balmforth

KYIV (Reuters) -Russia staged a major missile and drone strike on Ukrainian energy infrastructure early on Thursday, damaging substations and power facilities in five regions and causing emergency power cuts for at least 200,000 people, Kyiv officials said.

People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 11, 2024. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

Russia last month renewed its long-range aerial assaults on Ukraine’s energy system more than two years since the full-scale invasion. The latest attack used 82 missiles and drones, the military said.

People take shelter inside a metro station with their pets during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 11, 2024. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

“We need air defence and other defence support, not eye-closing and long discussions,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, appealing for more air defence supplies from Western assistance.

Ukrainian stocks of air defences and artillery have dwindled as assistance from the West has slowed down and a major U.S. aid package has been blocked by Republicans in Congress.

Air defences took down 18 of the incoming missiles and 39 drones, the air force commander said.

The Ukrenergo grid operator’s substations and power generating facilities sustained damage in the regions of Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv and Kyiv, it said in a statement.

People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 11, 2024. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

At least 10 missiles struck the city of Kharkiv, which lies just 30 km (19 miles) from the Russian border, the interior minister said.

The northeastern region of Kharkiv, which has been pounded by missiles and shelling and already has long, rolling blackouts in place, was forced to cut electricity to 200,000 people, presidential aide Oleksiy Kuleba said.

DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private electricity company, said Russia attacked two of its power stations, inflicting further serious damage.

People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 11, 2024. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

DTEK was hit last month by Russia’s worst attacks since the 2022 invasion on March 22 and March 29 and around 80% of its available capacity was destroyed.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Anastasiia Malenko; writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Sharon Singleton)