Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Attack on Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure
On May 8, 2024, Russia carried out a massive missile and drone assault on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in six regions, causing serious damage to several power plants. According to reports from local authorities and military officials, at least 59 weapons were destroyed in the attacks.
The latest assault is part of a broader campaign aimed at cutting off electricity to swaths of Ukraine and making life miserable for civilians. It marks the fifth attack on energy facilities in the past month and a half, further straining Ukraine's already reeling electricity generation capacity.
Ukraine's largest private electricity company, DTEK, reported that 80 percent of its available generating capacity had been damaged or destroyed by recent attacks. Ukrenergo, Ukraine's national electricity company, said it might have to cut power to some domestic and industrial customers on Wednesday evening as a result.
The assault began around midnight when drones entered Ukrainian airspace and continued for about seven hours. Missiles were launched from aircraft at about 4 a.m., and air-raid sirens that had blared around Ukraine had been cancelled by 7 a.m.
Russia's latest attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure comes at a particularly difficult moment for the country, which is facing a shortage of air defense weapons and ammunition amid pauses in Western aid. The ability to intercept airstrikes has been severely compromised.
The strikes also hit Ukraine on the day when it commemorates World War II, reflecting Russian President Vladimir Putin's confidence in the current war, where his troops now have the upper hand on the battlefield.
Previous attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure occurred on March 22, March 29, April 11 and April 27. The latest assault is a continuation of Russia's efforts to disrupt Ukraine's power grid and inflict damage to its civilian population.
