A Russian attack on an electrical facility in Ukraine has left 100,000 people without electricity in the northwestern region of Sumy.
The national grid operator, Ukrenergo, has announced that they are working to restore power.
So far, there are no reports of casualties or damage other than the energy facility.
It is understood that Russia continues to strike power facilities across Ukraine, often plunging the country into prolonged blackouts, with people enduring harsh conditions without running water, air conditioning or medical equipment.
In the last three months alone, Ukraine has lost 9 gigawatts of generating capacity, from enemy attacks on thermal power plants and hydroelectric sites that have been damaged by drones and missiles, writes the BBC, Telegraph reports.
This is reportedly enough to supply the entire Netherlands during peak consumption hours and more than a third of the capacity Ukraine had before the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022.
Poland has routed excess power to Ukraine to help it deal with Russian attacks, but Ukrenergo has planned all-day blackouts across the country as domestic production and electricity imports cannot cover the shortfall.
“We are at war. The energy sector is one of the targets of Russian terrorists. And it’s clear why,” said Maria Tsaturian from Ukrenergo.
“This is the price we pay for freedom,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian air defenses shot down 24 of 27 Shahed kamikaze drones launched by Russia on the night of July 5-6, the Ukrainian Air Force Command reported.
