Russia Targets Ukrainian Power Grid with Severe Strikes as Winter Approaches

The energy sector has become a critical battleground since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. (File)

Russia has inflicted serious damage on one of Ukraine's thermal power plants during an overnight assault, Ukrainian authorities announced Wednesday. This attack continues Moscow's strategic campaign to deprive Ukrainian civilians of essential heating, electricity, and water services as winter approaches.

According to DTEK, Ukraine's largest electricity operator, two workers sustained injuries during the attack. The company withheld specific details, including the power plant's location.

Ukrainian officials deliberately limit information about Russian attacks on power infrastructure to prevent providing valuable intelligence to enemy forces. Meanwhile, repair teams work continuously to restore damaged systems.

Energy infrastructure has remained a key target since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than three years ago.

Each winter, Russia attempts to cripple Ukraine's power grid, aiming to undermine public morale and disrupt military production facilities. Ukrainian authorities have accused Moscow of weaponizing winter conditions against civilians.

Ukraine's winter season typically runs from late October through March, with January and February experiencing the most severe cold.

In response, Ukraine has been conducting long-range strikes against Russian energy facilities, recently causing power outages in several Russian border regions.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported Wednesday that its air defense systems intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine Russian regions.

The Ukrainian town of Shostka in northeastern Sumy region has been particularly affected by Russia's attacks on power infrastructure, according to officials.

Local authorities have established warming centers where residents can shelter from the cold, drink hot beverages, charge electronic devices, and receive psychological support, regional head Oleh Hryhorov reported.

Hryhorov shared images on Telegram showing residents cooking over open fires in outdoor street kitchens on Tuesday.

Shostka Mayor Mykola Noha published locations of 11 sites where residents can obtain food and tea, advising citizens to "please bring your own dishes" in a Wednesday morning Facebook post.

Russian forces also targeted energy facilities in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region, southern Kherson region, and southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, according to local authorities.

Ukraine's air force claimed it successfully intercepted or jammed 154 out of 183 Russian strike and decoy drones launched against the country overnight.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian rocket attacks killed three people and wounded another in Russia's Belgorod border region, where previous strikes have caused power outages, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's Wednesday statement.