Russian attacks in Ukraine overnight left more than one million homes without water or heating in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksii Kuleba said Thursday. The Air Force, for its part, reported attacks with 97 drones, 70 of which were shot down by defense units. As in previous winters, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, which Kyiv and its allies describe as a deliberate strategy against the civilian population. Infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions (south) was hit overnight by massive Russian drone attacks, causing power outages, explained the Ukrainian energy provider Ukrenergo. “Repair work continues in the Dnipropetrovsk region to restore heating and water service to more than one million customers,” Kuleba wrote on social media. The Air Force, for its part, reported Russian attacks with 97 drones, 70 of which were neutralized, but 27 impacted various locations. These would be responsible for the power outages.

“Difficult situation”

Dnipropetrovsk's critical energy infrastructure was damaged during the attack, according to the region's governor, Vladyslav Gaivanenko. “The situation is difficult,” but service will be restored as soon as security allows, he posted on the Telegram platform. The Energy Minister, meanwhile, reported that eight mines were left without power, but their operators were evacuated in time.

In Zaporizhzhia, the electricity supply was restored to “key facilities,” but most consumers still do not have access to it, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov. Kyiv is responding to the attacks on its energy grid by shelling Russian oil depots and refineries. Its aim is to cut off energy exports from Moscow and cause fuel shortages.