Russian attack leaves Ukraine's Kherson thermal power plant nearly destroyed, thousands without heat
Illustrative photo: fire at a thermal power plant (Getty Images)
During a Russian attack on December 3, the Kherson thermal power plant (TPP) was almost destroyed, according to Naftogaz Ukraine.
According to the company, Russian forces carried out another targeted attack on Kherson TPP. As a result, the station was nearly destroyed, and its operations were fully halted.
Employees present at the plant at the time of the attack were injured and are currently receiving necessary medical care.
"Kherson TPP is exclusively a civilian facility, designed to provide heat to city residents. The Russians systematically attack it, this is terrorism," emphasized the Naftogaz press service.
Photos and videos released by the company show the scale of the destruction. Experts are currently assessing the damage and developing a plan to restore the plant’s operations safely.
Kherson TPP ceased functioning on the morning of December 4, leaving 470 buildings — more than 40,500 residents — without central heating. The city authorities are now seeking alternative heating solutions for these homes.
Naftogaz noted that attacks on civilian infrastructure not only endanger lives but also aim to pressure the civilian population and destabilize the region's energy system. The company called on the international community to condemn the attacks on civilian sites and to increase sanctions against Russia.
Kherson was under Russian occupation from March 2, 2022. Ukrainian forces launched an operation to liberate the city in September, and on November 11, 2022, the city returned under Ukraine's control.
Since then, Russian forces have systematically targeted residential and civilian infrastructure in the Kherson region.
Additionally, since September 2025, Russian forces have been scattering anti-personnel mines in residential areas of Kherson.
