Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Almost half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure is out of order

Emergency services responding to a fire after shelling in Kyiv Ukraine, 18 October 2022. Three Russian strikes hit an energy infrastructure facility in Kyiv
Photo: EPA/BGNES

Last night and this morning, Russian troops launched new strikes on several Ukrainian regions, BTA reported. Cherkasy, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Rivne and Vinnytsia regions were attacked, and a large fire was seen near the town of Smela. In the morning, an air alert was declared throughout Ukraine. The leaders of Khmelnytskyi and Kyiv regions report that air defense was working. In the city of Khmelnytskyi, the electricity stopped. Explosions are heard in the Rivne region, where there are problems with electricity.

As a result of the increased missile strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities, between 30 and 40% of the country's national energy grid has been affected. In an interview with Reuters, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko indicated that Ukraine had lost 4,000 MW (megawatts) in generating capacity as a result of these attacks. This necessitated the introduction of power outages between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. The authorities urged the population to stock up on warm clothes and blankets.

On that occasion, Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the United Nations, warned that the destruction of critical infrastructure in Ukraine and rising gas and coal prices put millions of citizens at risk this winter. "Under international humanitarian law, attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited," Rosemary DiCarlo pointed out.

For its part, the European Commission strongly condemned the ongoing Russian attacks on energy facilities in Ukraine. Due to the accumulation of Russian units on the territory of Belarus, in a widespread position, Kyiv yesterday called on the citizens of the country not to follow the orders of its leadership to enter the war against Ukraine and warned that it would respond to the actions if Belarus got directly involved in the war.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Rumen Radev

President Radev: Europe should support the US’ efforts for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine

To insist on seeking a military settlement to the conflict in Ukraine is a losing venture. Europe should support the efforts of the US to find a better solution, said President Rumen Radev at the Chief of Defence Annual Conference in Sofia. At..

published on 2/25/25 2:34 PM
PM Rosen Zhelyazkov

PM Zhelyazkov reiterates no Bulgarian troops will be sent to Ukraine

“There is no change, Bulgarian troops are not going to be sent to Ukraine,” said PM Rosen Zhelyazkov in a comment about the meeting between US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House. “The institutions in..

published on 2/25/25 1:17 PM
Ministry of Defence building

Bulgaria to take part in common procurement of IRIS-T air defence systems and CAESAR howitzers

Bulgaria is to take part in common procurement procedures in the sphere of defence at an EU level, under projects for the acquisition of IRIS-T air defence systems and CAESAR self-propelled howitzers. The Ministry of Defence applied for and..

published on 2/25/25 1:04 PM