Ukraine’s nuclear infrastructure under threat: Kremlin changes tactics of its attacks
Russia launched a massive attack on Ukrainian energy facilities, including substations powering the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants, on the night of November 8. Ukrainian authorities viewed these actions as a deliberate threat to Europe’s nuclear security and called on the international community to respond immediately.
This is reported by the Financial Times .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said the strikes were targeted and well-planned. He said the shelling of energy facilities demonstrates Russia’s intention to jeopardize the stability of Ukraine’s nuclear system and the security of the entire European continent.
Ukraine initiated an urgent meeting of the IAEA Board of Directors and appealed to partner states, in particular China and India, to influence Russia and stop attacks on nuclear energy facilities.
The November 8 strikes, journalists have noted, were part of a new wave of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, a campaign that Kyiv says is aimed at plunging the country into darkness.
The Zmiivska and Trypilska thermal power plants were also hit. Centrenergo said it was the largest attack on their facilities since the start of the full-scale war. DTEK said the attack led to large-scale blackouts in Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, and Chernihiv, leaving residents without electricity, water, and heating.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine also experienced technical failures in the database due to damage to power systems. As a result, movement across the state border was temporarily suspended for several hours.
DTEK CEO Maksym Timchenko noted that the intensity of attacks over the past two months indicates Russia’s efforts to completely destroy Ukraine’s energy system.
By the way, after Russia’s combined attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on the night of November 8, the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants were forced to reduce electricity production due to damage to distribution substations. The IAEA stressed that the situation poses a threat to the stability of the energy system and nuclear safety.
Recall that a massive missile and drone strike caused significant damage to the thermal power plants of PJSC “Centrenergo” , as a result of which the generating capacity of the enterprise was completely stopped. Restoration teams are working to eliminate the consequences, but currently there is no electricity production at the stations.
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