Russia hits substations connecting two nuclear plants to Kyiv, Zelenskyy says
Photo: Russia struck substations in the Kyiv region that connect two nuclear power plants to Kyiv (State Emergency Service)
In the Kyiv region, Russian forces struck substations that connect the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plants to Kyiv and Ukraine’s central regions, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"Russia is preparing for trilateral talks by launching ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Repair and rescue operations are underway in the affected regions wherever the security situation allows," the president said.
He reported that Russia had used a total of 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles, all of which were aimed at Kyiv and the surrounding region.
The main target of the attack was the energy sector. The capital is facing a difficult situation with electricity, water, and heat supplies. Residential buildings and the Northern Bridge were damaged, and a kindergarten was partially destroyed.
"In the Kyiv region, a substation connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plants to Kyiv and Ukraine’s central regions was hit," Zelenskyy said.
Substations were also damaged in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
12 other regions also came under attack. Nine people were injured, including one child.
"When Russia is trying to plunge Kyiv – a city of millions – and the entire country into a blackout, Ukraine must not be left alone. We are counting on increased bilateral support from the United States. We are counting on the US Congress to give more attention to Ukraine," the president stressed.
Russia's overnight attack damaged energy facilities in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions. The capital is facing an extremely difficult energy supply situation, which has also caused problems with heating and water supplies.
Consumers in two districts of the Chernihiv region, as well as in Chernihiv and Slavutych, were also left without electricity.
