UPDATE - 3 people injured as Russian airstrikes target Ukrainian energy infrastructure

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY; REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia on early Wednesday conducted airstrikes targeting the energy infrastructures in multiple regions of Ukraine, injuring three people, according to official statements.

“Over 50 missiles and more than 20 ‘Shahed’ drones targeted infrastructure in Lviv, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X.

Zelenskyy further said all necessary services are already working to mitigate the consequences of the Russian airstrike.

Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of Ukraine's Air Force, claimed on Telegram that the country's air defense downed 39 missiles and 20 drones out of the 55 missiles and 21 drones launched during the attack.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram that 350 rescuers and 100 units of specialized equipment are working to eliminate the consequences of the attack, which injured two people in the Kyiv region and a child in the Kirovohrad region.

Expressing that energy infrastructure facilities, about 30 residential buildings, public transport, and cars came under attack, Klymenko said the building of the fire and rescue department in Zaporizhzhia was damaged.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said in a statement on Facebook that the damage inflicted by the attack was clarified and energy experts are already working on eliminating them.

“The enemy wants to deprive us of the ability to sufficiently generate and transmit electricity. Economical use of electricity is the contribution of each of us to victory. Responsible consumption in the morning and evening hours is especially important,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s private energy provider DTEK said three of its thermal power plants were “seriously damaged,” not specifying the location of the plants targeted.

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said that in response to Ukrainian attacks on energy facilities in Russia, it launched a group strike on Ukraine's energy facilities, military enterprises and industrial complex, during which it claimed to have successfully hit all its targets.