UPDATE - Falling debris from Russian drones injures 16 in Ukraine’s Khmelnytskyi region

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM UKRAINIAN ENERGY MINISTRY

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - At least 16 people were injured overnight as debris from Russian drones fell in Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region, local authorities said on Wednesday.

“In the city of Slavuta, Shepetivka district, 11 apartment buildings and 9 private buildings, two educational institutions, an administrative building, a shop and cars were damaged due to the fall of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) debris,” Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Telegram.

Klymenko said that 16 people were injured and sought medical help, while fire and police department buildings located in Slavuta and Netishyn were also damaged.

Separately, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said that Russia attacked an area near the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, stating that explosions from the attack damaged windows of buildings nearby.

"Due to damage to power transmission lines, (electricity to) 1,860 consumers in the cities of Slavuta and Netishyn of the Khmelnytskyi region were cut off. Restoration work will begin as soon as energy workers are allowed to the site of damage.

In an earlier statement, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed that it shot down 11 Russian drones, adding that the country's air defense systems worked particularly in the Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Kherson, Poltava, Zhytomyr and Mykolaiv regions.

Russian officials did not immediately comment on the matter.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which started in February 2022, has killed over 9,800 civilians and wounded more than 17,900, according to UN figures.