Russia has carried out one of its largest strikes on Ukraine’s energy sector, attacking more than 15 key power generation facilities in various regions of Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported this on his social media.
Restoration work is currently under way, involving the necessary services and the available resources of Ukrainian energy companies.
The situation was most difficult in Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Shepetivka, Slavuta and Netishyn. Russian forces also attacked energy infrastructure in the Kharkiv region, Kyiv region, Dnipropetrovsk region and other areas.
Zelenskyy noted that Russia is expanding its attacks on energy infrastructure in an attempt to disperse Ukraine’s reserves and restoration capabilities.
According to the President, from 19:00 the previous day until 07:00 in the morning, Russian forces used more than 320 jet-powered and petrol-powered strike drones of the Shahed type, loitering munitions, and cruise and ballistic missiles.
Despite the fact that Ukrainian forces shoot down a significant share of aerial targets, large-scale and continuous attacks are causing substantial damage to the energy system.
The President also reported that new support packages for Ukraine are being prepared by European partners.
At the same time, he criticised a decision in the United States which, he said, effectively blocked the progress of Senator Lindsey Graham’s bill to increase sanctions pressure on Russia.
"This law could have – and still can! – help a great deal. But the law needs to truly work, and every vote for it matters," Zelenskyy stressed.
The President said Russia is trying to leave millions of Ukrainians without electricity and heating ahead of winter. To stop such attacks, pressure on Moscow must be increased.
"Pressure is needed to stop this. An American sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, cash rewards for Putin – all of this only encourages him to keep striking," Zelenskyy said.
He urged partners not to weaken support for Ukraine and to make efforts to bring the war to an end.