This week, Russia has stepped up drone and missile strikes at Ukraine’s energy facilities across the country. The most difficult situation is in Kharkiv region that has been constantly pounded by Russian attacks. Early in the week, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported three direct hits against reactor containment structures at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russian missile attacks hit an industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia, and energy and transportation infrastructure sites in Odesa region.
On Thursday, Russia carried out another sweeping drone and missile attack on Ukraine. Ukraine’s defense forces took down 39 of the 40 drones, and only 18 of the 42 missiles launched by Russia in several waves. The attack completely destroyed the Trypillya thermal power plant, the largest such facility in Kyiv region. The plant was a major power supplier of electricity to Kyiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions. Centrenergo, the state-run energy company that owns the facility has lost 100 per cent of its power generation as a result of the attack.
Ukraine responds to the attacks. This week, Ukraine’s defense intelligence struck a Russian plant that repairs missiles and disabled a warship of Russia’s Baltic fleet.
Russia continues to commit war crimes in Ukraine. This week, reports surfaced that Russian servicemen shot dead three Ukrainian war prisoners near Krynky, in Kherson region.
Late in the week, Switzerland announced that it will host a Ukraine peace summit on June 15-16. Russia will not take part in the gathering.
Ukraine in dire need of seven Patriot systems. Another Russian drone attack targets energy facilities overnight
Overnight on Friday, Russia sent several waves of Shahed-131/136 drones from the south to strike Ukraine’s energy sites. Ukraine’s defense forces shot down 16 out of 17 drones in six regions.
Four drones were destroyed over Dnipropetrovsk region, the southern military command said in a statement. Falling debris caused a fire at an energy facility in the Kryvyi Rih district. Firefighters have confined the fire and continue to work on site.
