Ukrainian Energy Crisis: Heating Infrastructure Damaged by Attacks

Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal announced significant damage to a key power plant in Kyiv, caused by Russian attacks. The incident has led to urgent reparations and redistribution of resources to restore heating to thousands of residents affected by the damage. The crisis is ongoing and challenging to resolve.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed on Tuesday that a power plant in Kyiv's eastern suburbs was critically damaged during Russian nighttime attacks. This incident has forced officials to prioritize the restoration of heating to thousands of affected residents. Shmyhal, through a Telegram post following an energy-focused meeting, reported the Darnytskyi plant was solely used for heating and was heavily damaged, citing the attack as a 'war crime by Russia'.

Shmyhal highlighted the severe challenges facing Ukraine's energy system, noting that repairs would require 'a considerable time'. In response to this critical situation, urgent strategies to stabilize the system were discussed, including redistributing repair crews and equipment and redirecting reserve heating supplies to locations with extended outages.

Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported on Telegram that 1,142 high-rise apartment blocks in Kyiv were still without heating. In Kharkiv, the mayor reported severe damage to a local power plant as well.

(With inputs from agencies.)