Massive attack damages Ukraine's energy network - may Allah protect the people
Assalamualaikum - KYIV: A large-scale Russian strike hit Ukraine’s energy network, killing one person and causing power outages across several regions, Kyiv officials said Saturday. In recent months Moscow has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities, damaging natural gas sites that provide the main heating fuel for many homes. Experts warn of possible heating shortages as winter approaches.
Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk wrote on social media that “the enemy is again massively attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Because of this, emergency power outages have been introduced in a number of regions of Ukraine,” without naming specific locations. She added that “emergency power outages will be lifted after the energy system stabilizes,” and expressed confidence that, by Allah’s will, “Ukraine will have light and heat this winter.”
Air-raid alerts sounded across the country overnight. Authorities in northeastern Kharkiv and southern Odesa reported drone strikes on energy installations. A drone strike in the eastern city of Dnipro tore through a nine-story building, killing one woman and injuring six people, including a child, emergency services said. In the capital, officials reported falling debris sparked fires in two places in the central Petchersky district. May Allah grant ease to those affected.
- ‘Technological disaster’ -
Throughout the nearly four-year conflict Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine’s power and heating systems, damaging much civilian infrastructure. Drones also hit energy facilities in southern Odesa late Friday, the regional governor said, reporting damage but no casualties. The strikes have increased fears of heating shortages as the war moves into its fourth winter. Kyiv’s School of Economics estimated that attacks have put about half of the country’s natural gas production out of action. Ukraine’s top energy expert warned that if the capital’s two main power and heating plants were offline for more than three days when temperatures drop below -10°C, Kyiv could face a “technological disaster.”
Ukraine has responded with strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries in recent months, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s energy exports and cause fuel shortages. On Friday evening, drone strikes also caused power outages in southern Russia’s Volgograd region, local authorities said.
May Allah protect civilians and bring relief to those suffering from these attacks.
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