Russian Attacks Hit 28 Energy Facilities in Ukraine, Says Zelenskyy

Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 28 substations and other critical energy facilities were hit in the latest wave of Russian attacks, with repair crews working to restore power across affected regions.

In a statement following a coordination call on the situation in Ukraine’s regions, Zelenskyy said electricity was gradually being restored. He thanked repair crews and energy sector workers for their efforts.

Zelenskyy said Prime Minister had briefed him on preparations for the heating season. Government agencies, energy companies and regional and local authorities had been assigned key areas requiring urgent attention to ensure infrastructure readiness.

He said Ukraine’s defence and foreign affairs ministers, along with the Presidential Office team, had been tasked with urgently contacting international partners to strengthen the country’s air defence. Zelenskyy flagged delays in implementing some political agreements and in the delivery of certain critical supplies at the level of the US Department of War. An additional meeting was scheduled for the evening to assess the progress of the day’s diplomatic contacts.

 Ukraine is also expanding production capacity for turrets that Zelenskyy said had proved effective against Iranian-designed Shahed drones. He said additional orders were being placed and called for faster organisational, financial and production processes. The government was also instructed to engage with the Baltic states on logistical support.

In a separate development, Zelenskyy said the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces had reported disruptions affecting equipment using Starlink and Starshield services. According to information received from frontline units, the equipment stops functioning at speeds of 130 to 161 kmph in different sectors of the front.

Zelenskyy said the disruption was slowing frontline logistics and limiting the use of several types of drones, including medium-range strike drones and interceptors targeting jet-powered Shahed drones. He said the issue needed to be raised with international partners at every level, stressing that rapid action was essential to protect lives.