French media: Russian air strikes on civilian facilities, Ukraine's power production drops to zero as it urgently seeks energy self-rescue
AFP Kyiv, 9th. After Russia launched a new wave of attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine is now making every effort to restore electricity and heating. The state-owned power company said its power generation capacity has dropped to "zero".
In recent months, Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure. In the air strike from late evening on the 7th to early morning on the 8th, hundreds of drones were deployed along with missiles, attacking energy facilities across Ukraine.
Russian attacks have disrupted electricity, heating, and water supply in many cities. State power company Centerenergo warned that its "power generation capacity has dropped to zero".
National power transmission and distribution system operator Ukrenergo said that most areas of the country will implement power cuts for 8 to 16 hours today to carry out repairs and adjust energy supply.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga claimed that Russian drones also targeted the external power substations of two nuclear power plants in western Ukraine, Khmelnytskyi and Rivne, and called on the United Nations' nuclear regulatory agency to intervene.
He wrote on Telegram: "Russia is intentionally endangering Europe's nuclear safety. We call on the IAEA Board to hold an emergency meeting to respond to these unacceptable risks."
The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia launched 458 drones and 45 missiles, of which 406 drones and 9 missiles were intercepted and shot down.
State-owned energy company Naftogaz said that this wave of bombing was the ninth large-scale attack on gas facilities since early October.
Kyiv Economic Institute estimated in a report that these attacks have reduced Ukraine's natural gas production by half.
Experts warn that this attack on energy infrastructure could put Ukraine at risk of heating shortages in winter.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, it has continuously targeted Ukraine's power and heating systems, destroying a large number of civilian critical facilities.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848328692473867/
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