Two hydroelectric power plants in Ukraine have been decommissioned following a major attack by Russian forces.
The attack on 8 May targeted energy infrastructure in several regions of Ukraine, including Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Vinnytsia and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine’s largest energy provider, DTEK, also noted that several thermal power plants were damaged in the attack.
As of 10 May, it has not been disclosed which specific facilities have been decommissioned.
A statement on Telegram from Ukraine’s state-owned energy company, Ukrhydroenergo, read: “Hydroelectric power facilities were heavily damaged during the morning shelling of critical infrastructure. Russia continues [to] massively attack and destroy Ukraine's energy infrastructure with devastating targeted strikes.”
Ukrhydroenergo further emphasised the extent of the damage as well as urging world leaders to offer their support, adding: “Today, all hydroelectric power generation has suffered crucial damages. The destroyed equipment requires considerable efforts to repair and restore and significant financial resources. The efficient support and decisive actions of the international community now are more important than ever.”
Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces have repeatedly attacked Ukrainian power infrastructure. One attack in June 2023 destroyed the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine, an event that caused mass flooding in the region and raised concerns about the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which previously received water from the dam’s reservoir for its cooling ponds.
More recently, on 5 May, Russian forces struck the Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant with five missiles following an attack on four other thermal power plants on 27 April.
One major target has been the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian control since 2022. In April 2024, one of its six reactors was damaged in a drone attack. Despite this, Russia has expressed intentions to restart the nuclear plant, which has been shut down since September 2022, as early as December 2024.
