Zelensky Says Russia Destroyed 30% of Ukraine’s Power Stations

Russia began targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure after the truck bombing of the Crimean Bridge

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Russia had destroyed 30% of Ukraine’s power plants since it began launching strikes against energy infrastructure across the country last week.

“Since October 10, 30% of Ukraine’s power stations have been destroyed, causing massive blackouts across the country,” Zelensky said.

Russia began launching large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure on Monday, October 10, after the truck bombing of the Kerch Bridge that connects the Crimean peninsula to mainland Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the strikes would continue in response to more Ukrainian “terror attacks.”

Russian attacks on energy infrastructure continued on Tuesday, and Ukrainian officials reported strikes that caused power outages and cut off water supplies. A spokesman for Ukraine’s emergency services said that over 1,000 Ukrainian villages and towns remain without power since Russia’s bombardment began last week.

Zelensky also said on Tuesday that there was “no space left for negotiations with Putin’s regime.” In response to Putin annexing the Ukrainian territory under Russia’s control, Zelensky signed a decree ruling out peace talks with Russia as long as Putin is the president.

In the face of increased Russian strikes on Ukraine, the US has reiterated its plans to support Kyiv for the long term and has shown no interest in pursuing diplomacy. The Washington Post reported last week that US officials have ruled out pushing Ukraine to negotiate with Russia even though they don’t believe either side could win the war “outright.”

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.