On Thursday, Russian military forces launched a targeted attack on Ukraine, leading to the destruction of the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant (TPP) in the Kyiv region, which is the largest electricity supplier to the capital city and neighboring Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions. The attack involved a total of 82 missiles and drones, including six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, as reported by Ukraine’s Air Force. Out of these, 18 missiles and 39 drones were intercepted, yet the advanced Kinzhal missiles remained undeterred by Ukraine’s air defenses.
Time is on Russia’s side: Trypilska Thermal Power Plant just outside Kyiv was destroyed with a Kh-69 cruise missile, which flies at 20m above the ground, launched from Sukhoi jets. Range 186 miles, 310kg warhead. Russia did not even have this missile before the 2022 invasion. pic.twitter.com/7ffBEDH6qZ
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) April 11, 2024
Despite the aggressive offensive, there were no reported casualties. The attack did not result in power outages in the Kyiv region or other areas reliant on electricity from the Trypilska TPP. Centrenergo, the energy company operating the TPP, announced the complete destruction of the facility, marking a significant loss of power generation capacity. This event follows a series of targeted attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has seen all three of Centrenergo’s power plants either destroyed or occupied since the onset of the conflict more than two years ago.
The systematic targeting of Ukraine’s energy sector by Russian forces appears aimed at crippling the country’s power grid, a move that would have dire consequences for the Ukrainian population, especially during winter months. This strategy has already resulted in considerable damage, with major power losses and the occupation of crucial energy facilities like the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant shortly after the invasion began.
In response to these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Western allies for not providing sufficient air defense systems to protect against such attacks. He emphasized the urgent need for more robust defensive support to prevent further destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Despite the challenges, officials from Centrenergo expressed determination to overcome the damages and restore operations.
The attack also saw Russian strikes on two other power stations owned by DTEK, Ukraine’s largest power company, causing serious damage. DTEK reported that approximately 80% of the power-generating facilities it operates have been destroyed by Russian military actions over the past three weeks, highlighting the intensified pressure on Ukraine’s energy system.
Russian President Vladimir Putin justified the attack as a retaliatory measure against Ukrainian assaults on Russia’s own energy sector, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. This statement was made amidst ongoing exchanges of hostilities between the two countries, underscoring the deepening crisis and the escalating impact on civilian infrastructure.
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