A major power plant near Kyiv was completely destroyed by Russian strikes early on Thursday, energy company Centrenergo said.
Trypillya power plant was the largest provider of electricity for three regions, including Kyiv.
“The scale of destruction is terrifying. The strikes destroyed the transformer, the turbines, the generators. They destroyed 100%,” Centrenergo chairman Andriy Hota said.
Russia has long been deliberately and systematically targeting Ukraine’s energy system.
A fire broke out in the turbine workshop of the Trypillya plant – located 50km (31 miles) to the south of Kyiv – following Thursday’s large-scale airborne attack.
The Centrenergo boss said the plant was targeted by multiple missiles. Staff on shift were able to escape, he said, because they ran for cover as soon as the first drone hit.
Residents were urged to shut their windows, charge all their devices and stock up on water.
More than 80 missiles and drones targeted sites across Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday. Many targeted energy infrastructure and almost a third made it through Ukraine’s air defences.
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