Russia has stepped up its attacks on the Ukrainian power grid, hitting critical energy infrastructure in its latest strikes on Saturday and injuring nearly 20 people.
“On the night of June 1, 2024, Russian occupiers launched a powerful air missile attack against critical infrastructure facilities in several regions of Ukraine, using air, sea and land missiles, as well as “Shahed” type missiles. UAVs”, the Ukrainian Air Force said Saturday in a post on Telegram, according to translation.
Local authorities said 19 people were injured in the attack, The Associated Press reported. Private energy operator DTEK he said two of its own power plants were “seriously” damaged by a Russian attack on Saturday.
Herman Halushchenko, Ukraine’s energy minister, said energy infrastructure in the Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kirovohrad and Ivano-Frankivsk regions was also targeted, according to AP.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the attacks on Saturday in a statement on the X social media platform.
“Civilian people, infrastructure and energy facilities. This is what Russia is constantly at war with,” Zelensky wrote on X. “Tonight, another barrage of more than 50 missiles of various types and about 50 ‘Shahed’ drones targeted southern, central and western Ukraine.”
“I am grateful to our warriors for shooting down most of them, but there were also attacks,” Zelensky continued. “All services are working on the ground to provide recovery and relief. All those affected will receive all necessary assistance.”
He too denounced what he described as “Russian terrorists” who understand only “the language of force.”
“And the only way to stop this terror and prevent it from becoming the norm is to promptly make effective decisions,” he continued in the post. “Full protection of the Ukrainian sky must become the norm. So that the crazy people in the Kremlin understand that their terror is useless.”
The Ukrainian leader also used the moment to pressure allies to acquire additional weapons, including Patriot missiles, F-16s and other modern air defense systems.
Damage to Ukraine’s power grid has forced the war-torn country’s leaders to institute rolling blackouts across the country, according to the AP.
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