Ukraine reports largest attack this year on its energy system

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said on Friday that Russia launched its largest attack since the beginning of the year on the country's energy system.

The minister said in a statement that power generation facilities, as well as electricity, lines, and energy distribution systems were hit in several Ukraine's regions.

"The goal is not just to damage, but to try again, as last year, to cause a large-scale malfunction of the country's energy system. ... There are power outages in some regions of Ukraine," he said.

Glushchenko noted that one of the power lines supplying the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was de-energized during the shelling.

The management of the plant confirmed the shutdown of one of the two operating high-voltage lines, noting that there was no threat to the safety of the nuclear facility.

Separately, Ukrhydroenergo, a Ukrainian state-owned enterprise that administers many major hydro power plants along the Dnieper and Dniester rivers, said the Dnieper Hydroelectric Station was hit in the attack, the explosions occurred in the engine room and on the crest of the dam.

The Dnieper Hydroelectric Station, also known as the Dnipro Dam, is located in the city of Zaporizhzhia, it is the largest hydroelectric power station on the Dnieper river.

The Ukrainian authorities reported a series of explosions across Ukraine earlier Friday morning, and the air raid alert sounded in all regions.