Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy sector on August 26th, killing 7 people and injuring 47 others, including 4 children

The Russian Federation attacked Ukraine’s energy sector on the night of August 26, 2024. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that six Tu-22M3 strategic bombers had taken off in Russia. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia launched more than 100 missiles and about 100 attack drones.

Ukraine’s air force has issued a subsequent warning that Russian attack drones are still flying over Ukraine’s airspace.

Ukraine’s energy Minister Herman Halushchenko posted on Facebook stating that the energy situation is difficult.

“The aftermath of the attacks is being assessed. Power engineers are already working on mitigating the damage,” he said. 

According to Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, 15 regions of the country were attacked by Russians. The Russians launched not just drones and cruise missiles but also Kinzhal ballistic missiles as well, which are much harder to intercept.

Kyiv authorities said that energy and water infrastructure were targeted, including the hydropower plant in the Kyiv region, where the dam was damaged.

Russian military sources have now confirmed that they used “high-precision weapons” to strike “important energy infrastructure” in Ukraine, according to the Interfax news agency.

Regional officials claimed a total of at least seven people were killed, and 47 others were injured, including four children.

According to Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, on Facebook, four people were injured. One of them is a child.

Kravchenko reported that the destruction occurred in all seven districts of the oblast, damaging energy facilities, over 40 houses, 5 cars, warehouses, garages, and fences.

Filip Pronin, head of the Poltava Oblast Military Administration, reported on Telegram that the Russian Armed Forces attacked an industrial facility in the Poltava Oblast, injuring five people.

According to Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk on Telegram, Russians damaged an apartment building in Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, killing a resident.

The head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov, reported that Russians murdered a civilian in the Zaporizhzhia district after an ordinance struck near a private house.

Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, confirmed one death earlier in the day on the 26th. Later on the same day, Lysak reported that another victim, a 47-year-old man, had been killed during the shelling of Nikopol. According to preliminary information, there are six hospitalised victims, among them is a 14-year-old girl.

“The aggressor launched a large-scale attack on the oblast in the morning. Explosions were heard in the Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih districts… Early reports indicate that a 69-year-old man has been killed,” he reported. 

Lysak said several fires have also broken out, including one involving a holiday home.

The regional head in Izyum, Kharkiv Oblast, said that a man was killed in a missile strike. Additionally, in Zhytomyr, a woman died after homes and infrastructure buildings were hit by missiles, as that regional head reported.

Zelenskyy goes on to call on Western allies to send Ukraine long-range weapons with the allowance to hit areas in Russia, from which Russian attacks are launched.

Ukraine must not have restrictions on the range when terrorists have none. Defenders of life must have no restrictions on using weapons," said Ukrainian president.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba outlined on X two specific decisions that partners can make to help Ukraine put an end to Russian terror sooner. First, affirming Ukraine’s long-range strikes on all legitimate military targets on Russian territory. Second, agreeing to use partners’ air defense capabilities to shoot down missiles and drones close to their airspace.

“None of these decisions are escalatory. To the contrary, they will deter Russia, help to reduce terror and the number of Russian attacks, as well as the resulting casualties. Act now, not later. Help us save lives,” the Minister commented.

To provide context, the next wave of missile and drone strikes comes nearly three weeks into a Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk Oblast on Russian territory.

Zelenskyy said the Kursk operation aimed to capture Russian soldiers – which led to a prisoner swap and the release of 115 Ukrainian defenders in exchange for the same number of Russians on the 24th.

He has also added it was a preventative strike to deter Russian attacks towards the bordering Sumy region of Ukraine, as well as stating there are other goals he could not disclose.

Zelenskyy explained that Ukraine would do everything to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war through diplomacy.