Drone strikes on two thermal plants leave much of occupied Donetsk in dark
Zuivska and Starobesheve thermal power plants damaged in the region (Photo: Getty Images)
On the night of November 18, unidentified drones attacked two thermal power plants in the Russian-occupied part of the Donetsk region. As a result, many settlements were left without electricity, according to a post by the governor of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People's Republic,” Denis Pushilin.
He confirmed that the Zuivska and Starobesheve thermal power plants were successfully damaged.
“As a result of an unprecedented attack on the republic’s power system, the Zuivska and Starobesheve thermal power plants were damaged. Many settlements lost electricity, causing boiler houses and water treatment plants to stop functioning,” he wrote.
Pushilin added that relevant agencies are working in emergency mode.
What preceded the attack
On the night of November 18, several social media channels reported sightings of unidentified drones over the Russian-occupied Donetsk region.
Within about half an hour, it was reported that lights were flickering in Makiivka and some districts of Donetsk, while Ilovaisk was completely without electricity.
Shortly afterward, videos appeared on social media claiming that unidentified drones were attacking the Zuivska thermal power plant, with footage showing a fire near the facility.
Closer to 4 a.m., local Telegram channels reported that power went out across Donetsk and partially in Makiivka. This occurred following reports of an attack on the Starobesheve thermal power plant, though the type of attack on the facility remains unknown.
