Russia unleashed a major attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Friday morning, damaging power facilities in many regions, said Ukrainian authorities.

The air strike was “probably the largest attack” on the Ukrainian energy system ever, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chief executive officer of the Ukrainian state-run energy company, Ukrenergo, said.

“It was carried out with the use of combined weapons, not only cruise missiles but also Shahed drones and ballistic missiles,” Mr Kudrytskyi said.

He added, “The Russian forces targeted thermal and hydroelectric power plants and the main power substations managed by Ukrenergo.”

One of the strikes hit Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric station, DniproHes, in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, said Ukraine’s state-run hydropower generating company, Ukrhydroenergo.

“A fire erupted at DniproHes following the attack, but there was no risk of a dam breach,” the company said on Telegram.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched more than 60 Shahed combat drones and almost 90 missiles of different types at Ukraine overnight.

“Maintenance work to restore electricity is underway in nine Ukrainian regions,” said Mr Zelensky.

(Xinhua/NAN)