ONE of Ukraine’s largest power stations has been “completely destroyed” in a massive Russian drone and missile strike.
Civilians in Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv oblasts have been plunged into darkness following hits to Ukraine’s national energy company.
The powerplant pictured in flames following the airstrikes
East2WestThe fire at the Trypilska power station, the largest of Kyiv’s energy supply systems, ripped through the sky[/caption]
East2WestThe plant was hit in an onslaught of Iranian-supplied Shahed kamikaze drones[/caption]
Russia is believed to have fired missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhals, from more than nine strategic bombers, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
But it is the Trypillia thermal power plant (TPP) in Kyiv that has been destroyed beyond repair following the large-scale opposition attack.
Miraculously, there were no casualties, although there was a large-scale fire in the turbine hall.
Andrii Hota, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Private Joint-Stock Company (PJSC) Centrenergo, a major electric and thermal energy-producing company in Ukraine’s centre and east, confirmed the news.
Hota told local media how PJSC Centrenergo had lost 100% of its power generation.
He added that emergency services remain on site as they attempt to put out the blaze.
Following the attack, the UK issued a statement to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) demanding Russia immediately ceases bombardment of Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Acting Ambassador Deirdre Brown condemned the continuous strikes that has impacted “millions” of civilians.
“Energy infrastructure has been targeted and extensively damaged, leaving millions of civilians without power and water,” Ambassador Brown wrote.
“The widespread impact of these attacks could last for months. The UK calls on Russia to cease its bombardment of Ukrainian energy infrastructure.”
She added: “The only path to peace is if Russia ceases its illegal war, withdraws all its forces and military equipment from Ukraine, and respects the will of the Ukrainian people for a wholly independent and democratic Ukraine.”
Ukraine is now believed to have almost no coal stations left following the strike.
Thursday’s attack is just the latest from Russia on Ukrainian infrastructure as they step up aerial assaults.
It comes just weeks after Putin unleashed hell on civilians using an arsenal of 150 devastating weapons designed to blitz warships and infrastructure.
The attack in March appeared to be his biggest one yet since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Eighty-eight missiles and 66 drones were allegedly used in the air attack which could have been Russia’s biggest against Ukraine – ever.
That blitz came only a day after Putin attacked Kyiv with his new terrifying 9,200mph hypersonic “Dagger” missiles just hours before Nato chiefs were due to visit.
Russia fired 31 ballistic and cruise missiles before dawn on March 22 – marking their first attack on the capital in six weeks.
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Smoke from the blast could be seen from across KyivEast2West