Russia punished Ukraine overnight with a new round of air attacks that saw some 90 missiles and 60 drones hit key energy infrastructure, plunging the second city of Kharkiv into darkness and damaging several facilities, reports said. those responsible.
It is apparently the biggest strike of the war against Ukraine’s energy grid, with internet down and domestic and industrial electricity supplies hit across the country.
Dramatic footage shows the Dnipro hydroelectric plant – Ukraine’s largest – in flames following a strike which also hit a bus, causing several civilian casualties.
The dam, part of the hydroelectric facility that supplies electricity to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, apparently remained intact, but the turbine chamber and sluice equipment were damaged.
“The fire at the plant continues,” power company Ukrhydroenergo said. “Emergency services and energy workers are working on site, overcoming the consequences of the numerous airstrikes.”
Residents of the second city of Kharkiv suffered water and electricity cuts overnight and the city’s transport engineering plant, a vital facility that produces and repairs tanks, was also hit by some of the heaviest bombings of the war so far.
Russian Telegram channel War Gonzo called the ruling “an evening and morning judgment” – and the brutal strikes followed closely on the heels of Putin’s victory in the Russian presidential election, which he sees as a mandate to continue his invasion of Russia. ‘Ukraine.
Earlier this week, he vowed revenge for what he saw as Ukrainian strikes against civilians in Russia’s Belgorod region.
He said: “We can respond in the same way. (We can strike) civilian infrastructure and any other such objects attacked by the enemy.
Putin’s missiles and planes hit Ukraine in the largest ever attack on its energy infrastructure.
In this photo provided by Petro Andryuschenko, advisor to the head of the Mariupol city administration, a burning trolleybus is seen on the damp of a hydroelectric power station after Russian attacks in Dnipro, Ukraine, Friday, March 22 2024.
Damage to the Dnipro hydroelectric power station is shown
The dam – part of the hydroelectric facility – apparently remained intact, but the turbine chamber and sluice equipment were damaged.
Shocking footage shows devastation of Dnipro hydroelectric plant
The dam remained intact but suffered considerable damage
Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said it was the largest attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the recent past.
“The world sees as clearly as possible the targets of Russian terrorists: power plants and energy supply lines, a hydroelectric dam, ordinary apartment buildings and even a trolleybus. Russia is fighting against people’s ordinary lives,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the messaging app Telegram on Friday.
For the second day in a row, NATO warplanes in Poland were taken off due to “long-range Russian aviation activity”, monitoring the flight path of Russian planes to ensure they did not threaten alliance territory.
Thirteen Tu-95MS aircraft – part of Putin’s nuclear arsenal but using conventional missiles – struck various targets across Ukraine.
With air defense overwhelmed by these planes and missiles, Russia also attacked with kamikaze drones.
Explosions were recorded in Kanatovo, near Kirovograd, a reserve air base of the Ukrainian Air Force, as well as in Kremenchuk, Burshtyn, Khmelnitsky Odessa, Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia.
A large local hydroelectric plant was completely out of service in Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia region, according to Mayor Serhiy Borzov.
Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said it was the largest attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the recent past.
“The goal is not just to harm, but to try again, like last year, to cause a large-scale breakdown of the country’s energy system,” he wrote on Facebook.
Local authorities in Zaporizhzhia reported that there were 12 missile strikes that destroyed seven houses and damaged around 35.
Russian war correspondent Roman Alekhin said of the strikes on electrical installations: “This is a warning for the future. »
About 15 explosions were heard in Kharkiv early this morning, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said, adding that said some water pumps in the city had stopped due to the attacks.
In central Ukraine, Kryvy Rih Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul said explosions had been heard in the town, but provided no details.
Citizens across Ukraine were forced to take shelter from the attacks and thousands gathered in the kyiv metro.
The number of victims has not yet been established.
It comes as a contingent of Ukrainian pilots completed a British flight training program as part of efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s air force.
Kharkiv CHPP-5, one of the Ukrainian energy plants, hit on March 22, 2024 by a Russian attack
Grainy footage shows Dnipro power plant hit
The photo shows people hiding in Kyiv metro stations in the early hours of March 22, 2024.
Several towns were targeted in a coordinated assault by drones and kamikaze missiles.
Citizens across Ukraine were forced to take shelter from the attacks and thousands gathered in the kyiv metro.
Ukrainian fast jet pilots at the High-G training and testing center at RAF Cranwell
Chief of the Air Staff Sir Richard Knighton said “Ukraine must prevail, your victory is our victory”, paying tribute to the skills and motivation of the 10 young pilots during a ceremony Thursday.
The 10 pilots received basic flight training, ground school and language training in the UK and will now progress to advanced flight training provided by the French Air Force before learning how to pilot F-16 fighter jets, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.
Sir Richard told pilots at a British air base: “From our own history in the United Kingdom, we understand perhaps better than anyone how powerful the few can be against the many,” referring to the heroic efforts of the RAF against the German Luftwaffe in World War II.
He told them: “It has never been more important for us to stand together to counter the aggression of those who seek to undermine our freedoms, our stability and the security of the international system, by standing against those who think that might is right and they can do whatever they want.
“We cannot and will not allow this.”
Sir Richard added: “Your conflict is our conflict. Ukraine must win, your victory is our victory.
He said: “It was an honor for us to welcome and train you here in the UK.
“The bond between us – our UK and Ukraine – is strong and I hope it stays strong for as long as it takes.”
The Ministry of Defense said the training is a key UK contribution to the Air Capabilities Coalition, co-led by the US, Denmark and the Netherlands, which is helping to build an air force made up of modern combat aircraft to form the cornerstone of the Ukrainian armed forces.