Russia launches 'massive' overnight attack on Ukraine power grid

Ukraine has reported that its energy infrastructure was the target of a significant attack by Russia during the night, causing widespread damage to the power grid.

Russia has attacked energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine for the eighth time in the last three months, according to Ukraine's energy ministry.

Ukrainian air force reported that 12 out of 16 missiles and all 13 drones fired by Russia at different areas were successfully intercepted by the air defence systems.

Two workers who deal with energy were injured and had to go to the hospital in the Zaporizhzhia area. Additionally, energy machinery was harmed in the city of Lviv in the west, according to officials.

In the south-western area of Ivano-Frankivsk, officials also documented destruction to homes and a preschool.

Russia has started attacking Ukrainian energy locations again this spring and early summer, leading to many power outages in the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Moscow has damaged a significant portion of Ukraine's ability to generate electricity since launching these attacks in late March.

The assault on Saturday night is the second aimed at energy facilities in the past week.

Thursday, officials in Ukraine reported that seven workers were injured and energy facilities, such as a power plant, were affected by a significant attack during the night.

Ukraine is purchasing energy from the EU, but it is still facing a shortfall in supplies.

This means that many days require a scheduled national power outage to safeguard important infrastructure like hospitals and military bases.

"We must act quickly to restrict air travel in Ukraine, or else a major crisis will occur this winter," stated Maxim Timchenko, the CEO of DTEK, one of Ukraine's leading privately-owned energy corporations.

I am asking for allies to assist us in protecting our energy system and helping us to rebuild quickly.

Mr. Zelensky has asked Ukraine's friends to send more air defense systems multiple times. He has specifically asked for seven advanced air defense systems called Patriots from the United States.

Ivan Fedorov, the governor of Zaporizhzhia, repeated Mr. Zelensky's statement on Saturday morning in a post on Telegram.

We can state with certainty that the enemy will continue its advances. Ukraine requires air defense systems." he declared.

A spokesperson from the United States National Security Council, John Kirby, announced on Thursday that Ukraine will receive Patriot deliveries before other countries that have also placed orders.