The Ukrainian Air Force said on Wednesday, May 8, that it had shot down dozens of missiles and drones launched by Russia overnight across the country, as part of a barrage targeting energy installations . “The enemy used 76 means of air attack – 55 missiles and 21 attack drones,” the Air Force counted on Telegram, adding that its air defense systems intercepted 39 missiles and 20 drones. The rain of drones fell against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities said.
“The enemy is not giving up its plans to deprive Ukrainians of light. Another massive attack on our energy industry!” Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote on Telegram. Indeed, its attacks targeted electricity production and transmission installations in the regions of Poltava (east), Kirovograd (center), Zaporizhzhia (south), Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnytsia (west), he said. He specifies. For his part, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin indicated that the city of Kherson, in the south, was also “partially deprived of electricity” because of “enemy strikes”. At the top of the state, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to be reassuring about Telegram : “All services are already working on the ground to put an end to the consequences of terror.”
The various local authorities reported at least six injuries during the night: one in the Dnipropetrovsk region (south), one in Kirovograd (center), two in Brovary, near Kiev, and at least two others in the capital. An 8-year-old child was also injured in the Kirovograd region (center), Governor Andriï Raikovych said on Telegram.
Three thermal power plants “seriously damaged”
The DTEK company, the largest private investor in the energy sector in Ukraine, three thermal power plants were “seriously damaged”. It said its facilities had been bombed about 180 times since the war began in February 2022, including five times in the past six weeks.
According to the military administration of the city of kyiv, Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers fired several cruise missiles at the capital, which was placed on alert for three hours. All these missiles were shot down, she said. Railway infrastructure was also targeted in the Kherson region. “The tracks were damaged,” explained Governor Oleksandr Prokudin, adding that traffic on one of the lines was limited. Russia has recently stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s railways, essential for trade, transport of civilians and military supplies. Targeting them can help stop military supplies, particularly from the West.
Before this large-scale Russian attack, the Ukrainian president had warned the day before that any delay in arms deliveries will be “costly”, including for his Western allies. “All batches of arms and ammunition are extremely important for Ukraine at the moment,” he insisted, warning: “Any delay [de livraisons] […] will be too costly for all those in the world who really want to be protected from Russia.” He also took the opportunity to thank “all the leaders who keep their word” by delivering to kyiv the promised weapons and ammunition while, since A few months, the military situation is more favorable for Moscow’s troops, on the offensive in the east of the country.