Russian missiles and drones wreaked havoc on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Thursday, with a major attack destroying a large electricity plant near Kyiv and hitting power facilities in several regions. The Trypilska coal-powered thermal power plant near the capital was completely destroyed in the assault, leaving a senior official at the company that runs the facility to describe the scene as “everything is destroyed.”
Unconfirmed footage circulating on social media showed a fire raging at the Soviet-era facility, with black smoke billowing out of the wreckage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as “terror” and called for urgent air defense support from the West.
Ukraine’s air force commander reported that air defenses successfully intercepted 18 incoming missiles and 39 drones, but a total of 82 missiles and drones were used in the attack. The destruction of the power plant outside Kyiv, a major supplier for several regions, has raised concerns about the resilience of Ukraine’s energy system.
The Ukrenergo grid operator confirmed that substations and power generating facilities in multiple regions had been damaged, while Ukraine’s largest private electricity company DTEK suffered serious damage to two power stations. Additionally, underground storage facilities for natural gas were targeted in the strikes.
With the intensity of the attacks escalating, Ukraine has warned that it could run out of air defense munitions and is in urgent need of support. The country has been appealing for assistance from the West, particularly for U.S.-made Patriot air defenses to counter ballistic missile threats. The situation in Ukraine remains dire, with critical infrastructure under constant threat from Russian aggression.