Russia launched a large-scale assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in one fatality and causing power outages across multiple regions, according to Kyiv officials on Saturday.“The enemy is massively attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure again. Because of this, emergency power outages have been introduced in a number of regions of Ukraine,” Energy minister Svitlana Grynchuk said, without specifying locations, reported AFP.“Emergency power outages will be canceled after the situation in the energy system stabilises,” she said, adding, “Despite the enemy’s plans, Ukraine will have light and heat this winter.”Nationwide air raid alerts occurred overnight, with officials in northeastern Kharkiv and southern Odesa confirming drone attacks on energy facilities.In Dnipro, a drone strike devastated a nine-storey building, killing one woman and injuring six people, including a child, emergency services reported.In Kyiv, officials confirmed that falling debris sparked fires in two locations within the central Petchersky district.Throughout its nearly four-year campaign, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s power and heating networks multiple times, causing widespread destruction to vital civilian infrastructure.Late Friday evening, drones struck energy facilities in southern Odesa, according to regional governor Oleg Kiper’s Telegram post. “There was damage to an energy infrastructure facility,” he reported, with no casualties, as quoted by AFP.The persistent attacks on energy facilities raise significant concerns about heating availability as Ukraine faces its fourth wartime winter.A Kyiv School of Economics report indicated the attacks have disabled half of Ukraine’s natural gas production.Leading energy specialist Oleksandr Kharchenko warned during a media session Wednesday that Kyiv could face a “technological disaster” if its two power and heating plants became non-operational for over three days in sub-minus 10 degrees Celsius temperatures.Russian forces have intensified their strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities in recent months, causing significant damage to natural gas installations that provide essential heating fuel for the country.Analysts indicate Ukraine faces potential heating disruptions as winter approaches. Ukraine has responded by increasing attacks on Russian oil facilities and refineries, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s energy exports and cause nationwide fuel shortages.
