On a day meant to commemorate the historical defeat of Nazism in World War II, Russia launched over 50 missiles and explosive drones targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure in a symbolic and strategic assault. This latest offensive has hit multiple regions and directly threatened Ukraine’s energy grid, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described as “massive”.
According to the Ukrainian air force, 55 missiles and 21 Shahed drones were launched overnight in a strike against Ukraine. The national electrical grid operator Ukrenergo reported that facilities in the Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Poltava, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions sustained damage. The Lviv region, notably distant from the front lines, also suffered hits on two energy facilities.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy supplier, stated that the attack gravely damaged equipment at three of its thermal power plants. The company’s assets have been targeted almost 180 times since the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, resulting in injuries to 51 workers and the deaths of three.
Andrii Herus, chair of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee on Energy and Housing Services, revealed the staggering impact on Ukraine’s power infrastructure—nearly half has been damaged since February 2022, with costs estimated at $12.5 billion, and $1 billion of that damage inflicted in the past two weeks alone.
President Zelenskyy, in a poignant observation on a social platform, equated the current conflict with the struggle against Nazism, highlighting the need for a “united free world” to stop Russian aggression.
On the strategic front, Ukrainian officials surmise that the lessened frequency of attacks in recent weeks could indicate Russian resource conservation for a significant battlefield offensive. At present, the front line, spanning 1,000 kilometers, has seen minimal change since the early months of the conflict.
Relevant articles:
– Russia unleashes ‘massive’ barrage targeting Ukraine energy infrastructure , Al Jazeera English, 05/09/2024
– Russia hits Ukraine’s power grid with a ‘massive’ attack on a day marking the WWII defeat of Nazism, The Associated Press, 05/08/2024
– Ukraine Warns Of Possible Blackouts After ‘Massive’ Russian Attack On Infrastructure, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 05/08/2024
– Russia launches ‘massive attack’ on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Agencia EFE, 05/08/2024