A massive attack on Ukraine’s energy sector threatens Europe’s nuclear safety
3 November 21:35
On November 3, during a massive attack on Ukraine, Russia deployed 289 attack drones, 17 ballistic missiles, and 59 cruise missiles. The main targets were energy infrastructure facilities, including power plants and substations in the electricity transmission and distribution systems. This was reported by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal following a meeting with ambassadors from the G7 countries and the European Union, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“We held a meeting with the ambassadors of the G7 countries and the EU. I briefed our partners on today’s massive shelling of Ukraine. Russia deployed 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles, and 59 cruise missiles. Once again, energy facilities—power plants and substations of the electricity transmission and distribution systems—were the main targets,” the minister noted.
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Russia attacked a substation critical to the operation of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant
Separately, Shmyhal emphasized that during the attack, Russian troops directed three drones at a substation that is critical to the stable operation of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant.
According to the minister, such actions pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to Europe.
“Such actions pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the nuclear safety of all of Europe. This is a serious escalation, which we have reported to the IAEA,” Shmyhal stated.
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Ukraine Awaits a Response from Its International Partners
During a meeting with diplomats from the G7 countries and the EU, the Ukrainian side raised the issue of further Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, on which the stable operation of nuclear power plants depends.
“We expect an appropriate response from our international partners to the further escalation of Russian attacks on the infrastructure that ensures the stable operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants,” the minister emphasized.
Ukraine has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the threat such strikes pose to nuclear safety.
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Russia Attacked Energy Infrastructure in 10 Regions
Earlier, "Komersant Ukrainian" reported that on the night of and morning of November 3, Russian occupation forces launched missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Facilities in ten regions were targeted.
According to the Ministry of Energy, attacks were recorded at energy facilities in the Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Odesa, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, and Kharkiv regions.
As of this morning, the situation was most critical in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv regions, where damage has limited the ability to transmit electricity to consumers.
Due to equipment damage and voltage drops in the high-voltage grid, emergency power outages are being implemented in Kyiv, as well as in the Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, and Kharkiv regions.
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