Russia ramps up targeted strikes on Ukraine's energy network
In recent weeks, Russia has effectively attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure targets. "Their tactic has changed - sadly, not for the better for us," said Svitlana Grinchuk, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine, to CNN.
In the first two years of the war, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy systems were more dispersed, with many facilities being targeted simultaneously. Now, Putin's army's attacks have become more precise and concentrated, with dozens of missiles and drones falling on a single target.
"In such a short time - over a few weeks of these massive Russian attacks - almost all of our year-long efforts to rebuild and repair the energy networks were destroyed in a few days, in just a few attacks," said Grinchuk.
Russians took a long time to prepare for the attack
Russia began the latest wave of attacks on Ukrainian power plants on March 22. On Thursday, as a result of Russian shelling, the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant - the largest facility of its kind in the Kyiv region - was completely destroyed. Additionally, Ukraine's largest energy company, DTEK, reports that "severe damage" was inflicted on two of its power plants, as well as on 80 percent of its facilities involved in electricity production.
According to Ukrainians, the Russians embarked on the attack campaign now for two reasons: they had to accumulate missiles and gather intelligence data, and they were waiting for Ukrainian air defences to become weaker in connection with the suspension of aid by the USA.
Source: Radio Free Europe
