Russia has changed its tactics in attacking Ukraine's energy facilities, using precision-guided missiles to destroy power plants in areas less defended than Kyiv.
Source. This was reported by the Financial Times.
Some of them will not be restored until next winter.
Ukrainian officials said that although the damage caused by Moscow was not as extensive, it was greater than in the winter of 2022-23.
"It is clear that Russia's aim now is to cause permanent, irreparable damage," the FT writes.
Between 22 and 29 March, Russia struck seven thermal power plants – all in regions other than Kyiv, with its powerful air defence system. Russian missiles also hit two hydroelectric power plants.
Ukraine did not provide details on the extent of damage at each plant, but officials said some, particularly in Kharkiv region near the Russian border, were almost completely destroyed, the FT reported.
"Our goal is to restore as many as possible by October," the newspaper quoted Maxim Tymchenko, head of the company, as saying.
The group lost about 80% of its electricity production as a result of Russian attacks in late March and early April, and five of DTEK's thermal power plants were forced to shut down.
In its previous winter campaign against Ukraine's power grid, Russia sought to plunge cities into darkness and cold by striking switchgear and transformers across the country, Tymchenko said. But now, he said, Russian missiles are targeting power plants in specific regions to "destroy them completely, because it is impossible to restore power plants in a short time."
"The Russians are trying to cut off power supply to large industrial regions and cities," said Maria Tsaturyan, a spokeswoman for Ukrenergo.
"The same number of missiles that were used during the winter attack of 2022-23 is now aimed at five or six energy facilities in one region," she said.
Background. As reported, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said that Russia could carry out one or two more massive missile attacks in the coming weeks.