Russian Strike Hits Naftogaz Thermal Plant in New Attack on Ukrainian Energy Grid

Russian forces have carried out another large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, this time striking a thermal power plant operated by Naftogaz, the country’s state-owned energy company.

The strike caused a fire at the facility and marks the third targeted assault on Naftogaz infrastructure in just seven days, The Caspian Post reports via Ukrainian media.

The attack occurred overnight and is part of a wider campaign targeting non-military energy facilities.

“Over the past week, the enemy has launched three massive strikes on Naftogaz Group’s gas infrastructure. Last night, a thermal power plant was hit,” the statement read.

Earlier in the week, Russian forces shelled gas production facilities in the Kharkiv region and launched precision strikes on critical infrastructure in Sumy and Chernihiv.

Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi denounced the attacks as acts of terror aimed at destabilizing Ukraine ahead of winter.

“These facilities have no connection to military operations. Russia is deliberately targeting energy infrastructure to deprive Ukrainian civilians of gas, heat, and electricity,” Koretskyi said. “They will not break us. We will rebuild everything they destroy.”

With the arrival of colder weather, Russia has intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, focusing on thermal and combined heat-and-power plants - essential for heating homes and businesses during winter.

As a result of the damage, emergency blackouts were implemented on the evening of October 14. Regions currently affected include Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, and Dnipropetrovsk, as well as parts of Kirovohrad, Kyiv, and Cherkasy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that electricity shortages will likely worsen if Russian attacks continue. In response, Ukraine has resumed electricity imports from the EU to help maintain supply.