Ukraine denounced that Russia launched a massive attack with 60 drones and missiles on Thursday night
that left serious damage to energy infrastructure in six regions.
"Russia continued its barbaric attacks on the Ukrainian energy system. There is damage to the energy infrastructure in the regions of
Dnipropetrovsk, Vinitsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Cherkasi and Chernivtsi
. Emergency blackouts have occurred in some regions," reported the first Ukrainian Minister, Denis Smigal, in a message on Telegram.
Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian national electricity company, reported that "thermal and hydroelectric power plants in the central and western regions were damaged."
Ukraine's main energy supplier, DTEK, said equipment at three of its thermal power plants was seriously damaged and one worker was injured.
In his Telegram message, he also recalled that since the beginning of the large-scale invasion more than two years ago, the Russians have attacked DTEK thermal power plants on more than 160 occasions.
On this occasion, the Ukrainian air defense forces reported that they shot down 58 Shahed 136/131 drones and 26 missiles out of a total of
99 air attack objects launched by Russia
during the night.
"On the night of March 29, the enemy launched a powerful air and missile attack against the facilities of the fuel and energy sector of Ukraine, using various types of missiles and attack unmanned aerial vehicles," said the commander of Ukrainian Air Force, Mikola Oleshchuk.
Specifically, Russia launched
sixty Shahed drones
from Primorsko-Akhtarsk, in the Russian Kursk region; three
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
ballistic missiles , from three MiG-31K fighters from Russia's Ryazan region;
two Iskander-M ballistic missiles
, from the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula; and
nine Kh-59 guided missiles
, from nine Su-34 aircraft from the Russian Belgorod region).
Russian forces also attacked with
four Iskander-K cruise missiles
from the Russian Kursk region; and
21 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles
, from eleven Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Russian Engels.
Anti-aircraft missile units of the Air and Ground Forces, mobile fire groups and electronic warfare equipment of the Ukrainian Defense Forces took part in repelling the air attack.
Among the
84 eliminated targets
are 58 drones, 17 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, five Kh-59 guided missiles; and four Iskander-K cruise missiles, the statement states.
The Ukrainian Prime Minister insisted that "Ukraine needs more air defense systems to safeguard critical infrastructure and protect the population," recalling that this is the main topic of discussion with international partners.
With information from EFE