Russia Hits Ukrainian Hydropower Plants in New Missile Strikes

Russia Hits Ukrainian Hydropower Plants in New Missile Strikes
At the BRSM gas station an employee stands inside the shop during a power outage in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 28, 2022. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
Reuters
10/31/2022
Updated:
10/31/2022

KYIV—Russia fired dozens of missiles at Ukrainian energy facilities including hydroelectric power stations on Monday, causing widespread blackouts, mobile phone outages, and reductions in water supplies.

Explosions rocked Kyiv and thick black smoke billowed over the capital in a wave of attacks on Monday morning that Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said targeted 10 Ukrainian regions and damaged 18 mostly energy-related facilities.

A major hydroelectric power plant at Kremenchuk in central Ukraine came under attack, the regional governor said, without making clear whether it had been hit or damaged.

Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote on Facebook there had been partial blackouts in some areas and emergency blackouts had been imposed in others to reduce the load on the energy system.

Russia did not immediately comment on the latest air strikes.

“On the occasion of Halloween, the Russians decided to carry out another act of missile terror,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Twitter.

There was no immediate word on casualties though the governor of Kyiv said there had been “one victim” in what he described as “massive shelling” of the region.

Kyiv authorities said 350,000 apartments were left without electricity, water supplies were affected and mobile phone systems were down in some areas.

The mayor of Kharkiv said missiles had targeted “a critical infrastructure facility” in the northeastern city.

Ukrainian officials gave no details of damage to hydroelectric power stations, which produced about 5 percent of Ukraine’s electricity before Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24.

Russia has stepped up attacks on energy infrastructure and cities since blaming Kyiv for an explosion which damaged a bridge linking southern Russia with Crimea.

By Pavel Polityuk