Blackout in parts of Ukraine as Russian air strikes cripple power grid

Russian air strikes targeted at power grids across Ukraine have left swathes of the country in darkness.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the “massive attack” happened Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning.

The ministry of energy said one of the two power lines of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was cut off due to the attacks.

The Zaporizhzhia power station in south-eastern Ukraine is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and among the 10 largest in the world.

“Russian terrorists used various types of drones, including Shaheds, as well as cruise, ballistic, and aeroballistic missiles —Zircons, Iskanders, and Kinzhals,” Zelensky said.

“In total, approximately 120 missiles and 90 drones were launched.”

The Ukrainian president said air defence forces destroyed over 140 aerial targets in an organised and coordinated manner.

“The enemy’s target was our energy infrastructure across Ukraine. Unfortunately, some facilities sustained damage from direct hits and falling debris,” he noted.

In Mykolaiv, a drone attack killed two people and injured six others, including two children.

Zelensky offered condolences to the families of the victims.

In Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, fragments from intercepted missiles and drones landed in several places, but there were no reports of injuries.

The president assured that work is ongoing to mitigate the consequences of the attack and restore the power infrastructure.