Energy Infrastructure Under Attack
In the early hours of February 9, Russian forces struck an energy facility near the Novovolynsk community in the Volyn region. This attack resulted in power outages for more than 80,000 subscribers in the Novovolynsk community and surrounding settlements. Critical infrastructure in the city is currently being powered by generators. These strikes are part of a wider Russian campaign targeting Ukraine's power grid, which has intensified during the winter months.
"Last night, the enemy struck an energy facility near the Novovolynsk community again. Water treatment plants are operating on generators. For heating: some boiler houses have switched to generators and are firing up the boilers. Fuel is available."
Borys Karpus
Furthermore, he noted that
"the enemy struck a high-voltage substation again. There is significant damage, the substation is not operational! The State Emergency Service and all relevant services are working at the blast sites."
Borys Karpus
Consequences of the Attacks
In addition to the strikes in Volyn, Russian forces also launched drone attacks on Odesa, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions during the night of February 9. The attack on Odesa killed one man. In the Kharkiv region, within a settlement of the Malodanylivska community, a woman and a child were killed, and others were injured. There are also reports of casualties in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The situation with Ukraine's energy infrastructure remains tense, particularly under the constant threat of attacks from Russian forces. Power outages and damage to critical facilities severely impact local residents, who are forced to rely on generators for basic needs. These events underscore the vital importance of protecting energy infrastructure during wartime, as a stable electricity supply is crucial for community functioning and preserving lives.
Given the geographic spread of these attacks, measures must be taken to defend against further threats and to improve emergency response systems.