Russian missiles and drones overwhelmed dwindling Ukrainian air defenses and destroyed the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant, a fossil fuel-burning plant that was the largest power generator in the Kyiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions, CNN reports. Russia reportedly fired 82 missiles and drones in the attack around Kyiv, with Ukrainian air defenses shooting down 18 missiles and 39 drones.
The power plant was knocked out by missiles destroying the two massive turbines that generate electricity. The plant’s destruction hasn’t led to widespread power outages in the region, but it puts more stress on an already strained system.
“A black day in the history of Centrenergo,” the company said in a statement noting that all three of its power-generating stations were now either destroyed or occupied by Russia. “The scale of the destruction is terrible. Money can’t estimate it. This is the biggest challenge for us in the history of the company.”