Russian military strikes targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on February 15, 2024, leading to the deaths of six individuals amid ongoing hostilities. The attacks primarily aimed to disrupt power supplies across the nation, according to Ukrainian officials. In the southeastern industrial city of Zaporizhzhia, two men were reported killed overnight. Additionally, a seven-year-old girl from the central Vinnystia region succumbed to injuries sustained during these assaults.
In his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attacks, specifically highlighting a bomb strike on a thermal power plant in Sloviansk, located in eastern Donetsk region, which resulted in two fatalities and several injuries. This escalation follows reports of Russian attacks on civilian dwellings in the city of Kramatorsk, where one individual died and three others were injured. Both Sloviansk and Kramatorsk are viewed as strategic objectives in Russia’s gradual military advance through the Donetsk region.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed that its operations targeted facilities associated with Ukraine’s military-industrial complex. Moscow has consistently denied targeting civilians, asserting that its strikes are retaliatory measures against alleged Ukrainian assaults on Russian infrastructure. This conflict has seen Ukraine launch regular drone strikes on military and oil installations as it continues to resist nearly four years of Russian invasion.
In the latest wave of attacks, President Zelenskiy reported that Russia deployed over 650 drones and 50 missiles. He stated that Ukrainian air defense units successfully intercepted the majority of these threats, shooting down 592 drones and 31 missiles. The strikes affected energy facilities across central, western, and southeastern regions, prompting the Ukrainian government to impose nationwide electricity supply limits for both retail and industrial consumers. Some areas also experienced disruptions in water and heating services.
The DTEK Group, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, reported that its thermal power stations in various regions were under attack. CEO Maxim Timchenko emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “This attack is a bad blow in our efforts to keep power flowing this winter. Based on the intensity of attacks for the past two months, it is clear Russia is aiming for the complete destruction of Ukraine’s energy system.”
The strikes have had a profound impact on civilians, with reports indicating that six children were among the 17 individuals wounded in Zaporizhzhia. In Vinnystia, four additional people were confirmed injured. Residents in Kyiv endured extended air alerts throughout the night, seeking refuge in underground metro stations. One mother, Viktoria, expressed her distress, noting, “There’s nothing good in it. We are doing our best to hide. There’s a lot of stress involved. When you wake your child in the middle of the night, he cries because he doesn’t understand why he has to do it.”
As the conflict continues, the humanitarian consequences remain dire, with civilians bearing the brunt of military strategies aimed at crippling essential services. The situation underscores the urgent need for international support and solutions to mitigate the escalating crisis in Ukraine.
