Russia Launches Winter Energy Campaign, Ukrainian PM Says

[UPDATED: Sept. 30, 2:00 pm , Kyiv time. Updated with information about the damage to the Trypilska Power Plant.] Russia has launched a renewed campaign of mass assaults against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the winter, Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said on Wednesday, Sept. 30. “Russia has switched to massive strikes on energy infrastructure,” Koretskyi wrote, reporting that Russian missiles and drones had attacked energy facilities in Kyiv, the surrounding region and elsewhere in Ukraine overnight.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Since the summer, there has effectively not been a single day when the enemy did not attack energy infrastructure. But such a massive and combined attack took place for the first time since the end of the previous heating season,” he said. The strikes damaged and destroyed energy equipment, although Koretskyi did not disclose which facilities were hit or the extent of the damage. He said he was awaiting a detailed report on the condition of the equipment and the expected timeframe for repairs. Five killed as Russia attacks 11 regions Eleven Ukrainian regions came under Russian attacks that started on Tuesday evening, according to the prime minister. In addition to energy facilities, Russian forces hit residential buildings, social infrastructure, civilian businesses and railway facilities. Koretskyi said five people had been killed across the country, including a child, while 14 others were wounded. The casualty figures covered the wider nationwide assault which were not limited to attacks on energy facilities. Other Topics of Interest Russia Caps Cash Outflow at $11,900 per Person Amid Soaring Budget Deficit The new decree applies to travel to Russia’s neighboring countries, with Russia also eyeing a record 17 trillion rubles ($203 billion) in defense spending for 2027. “All those affected are receiving the necessary assistance. Emergency recovery work and efforts to eliminate the consequences of the attack are ongoing,” Koretskyi said. The threat of further strikes was feared in several regions. Utility worker killed in Kyiv In Kyiv, a Kyivteploenergo driver was killed when a Russian attack hit a warehouse in the Solomianskyi district. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the driver had been working at the site alongside other utility specialists. A Kyiv Post correspondent reported that the attack hit the warehouse’s freezer rooms and set a truck on fire. The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that another person was injured at the site. Klitschko also said debris from the overnight attack was found on the grounds of a Western embassy in the Shevchenkivskyi district, without identifying the diplomatic mission. DTEK said its workers had restored electricity to 8,000 households after energy infrastructure was damaged. “We continue to work 24/7 to ensure reliable electricity supply for Kyiv residents,” the company said. These latest incidents followed initial reports from the capital, where two women were killed and five people wounded, as Kyiv Post previously reported. Fires and damage were recorded at residential buildings, warehouses, a store and other sites in the Sviatoshynskyi, Holosiivskyi, Obolonskyi, Podilskyi and Solomianskyi districts. Authorities ordered to check backup power Koretskyi instructed local authorities to inspect backup power systems serving critical infrastructure in their communities. He said officials must complete the installation and connection of any remaining emergency power equipment as quickly as possible. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s power system during the full-scale invasion, with the most intensive campaigns traditionally taking place during the colder months, when damage to electricity, heating and water infrastructure creates the greatest pressure on civilians. Trypilska power plant equipment damaged Russia’s attack damaged generating equipment at the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant in the Kyiv region, state-owned energy company Centrenergo said. “Our immediate priority is to assess the condition of the equipment and determine the scope of the necessary work,” Centrenergo CEO Serhii Isachenko said. “As soon as the security situation allows, our specialists will begin repairs. The team knows what to do and continues working,” he added. The company declined to disclose further details about the damage for security reasons. Centrenergo said Russia was deliberately targeting Ukraine’s energy system ahead of the heating season in an effort to deprive residents of electricity and heat.