Saturday saw Russian missiles strike power stations in western and central and Ukraine, putting further pressure on the deteriorating energy infrastructure as the nation struggles with a lack of air defenses in spite of a breakthrough in the military assistance of the US.
Using long-range missiles, which included cruise missiles launched by Russia's strategic bombers in the Arctic Circle, the air attack was the fourth major aerial strike on the power grid since March 22.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed once more to allies for the Patriot system and other defensive weapons. Although he did not specify whether any of these facilities were destroyed, he confirmed that the targets contained facilities for the transit of power and gas and, especially those important for the gas supply to the EU.
Russia maintains its gas supply to the EU through Ukraine as part of an agreement with Gazprom that is set to expire in December and that Ukraine claims it has no intention of extending.
According to officials, water supply in Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown, was interrupted following attacks on power plants in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Based on a statement of the air force commander, 21 of the 34 inbound missiles were stopped by Ukrainian air defenses.
Russia denies that it is attacking civilians, claiming instead that the Ukrainian energy system is a reasonable military target. Authorities in Ukraine reported that an energy worker had injuries last night.
Ukraine has attempted to take the fight back to Russia by utilizing long-range drones, and hit the Slavyansk and Ilsky oil refineries in Russia overnight, according to a Ukrainian intelligence source.
Buildings caught fire as a result of the SBU security service's drone attack. In the south, there was also a strike against Russia's Kushchevsk military airfield.
An official supervising the plant said that the Slavyansk oil refinery had to stop some of its operations due to damage sustained in the attack.
Amid Russian attacks, Ukraine lost 35% of its hydroelectric capacity and 80% of its thermal power generation, according to officials.
Even though the majority of the energy system is powered by nuclear power, officials warn that losing that capacity could could have catastrophic effects as consumption will increase later this year.
Some locations have seen rolling blackouts, but the full impact of the strikes has not been felt as the mild weather largely lowers consumption.
The Lviv region did not currently have any planned blackouts, but the governor did advise residents to consume less electricity, especially in the evening when usage is highest. The two essential components of energy infrastructure in the Chervonohrad and Stryi districts, he said, had been destroyed in the attack on Saturday.
Zelenskiy demanded that Kyiv's partners take decisive action, expedite the delivery of air defense supplies, and also increase the quantity.
The US authorized a substantial aid package for Ukraine this week, after a six-month legislative gridlock during which Kyiv's arsenal of weapons ran out.
The Pentagon announced on Friday that it would provide Ukraine with new weaponry worth $6 billion, which includes Patriot air defense system interceptors.
Australian Minister of Defense Richard Marles also said they will provide a military assistance package worth $100 million, including short-range air defense and drones, with air-to-ground precision-guided bombs arriving separately.