A Russian air attack struck a residential building and energy installations after dark in the night in and near Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa, killing one person, injuring 10 and knocking out a boiler plant used for heating, officials said.
“A multi-storey residential building was destroyed in the centre of Odesa, apartments were set on fire, high-rise apartments were damaged, along with about 30 cars,” Odesa Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said
“Enemy fire also damaged the main central heating pipeline. The boiler plant has been temporarily shut down and repair work is underway.”
Odesa’s mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said the attack temporarily left over 40,000 people without heating. Heating infrastructure for one of the city’s maternity hospitals was also damaged, he said.
Engineers finished the repairs by the morning and heating would resume for impacted consumers within the next few hours, Trukhanov added.
Ukraine’s air force said that it shot down 25 out of 29 drones and one of two Kh-59/69 guided missiles launched by Russia during an overnight attack.
Odesa has been a frequent Russian target in the more than 2 1/2-year-old war, as have the port facilities located near the city.
Ukraine’s national power grid operator Ukrenergo introduced limits on electricity supply for businesses on Wednesday due to “significantly” lower imports and lower generation, the company said.
“The restrictions will be in place during the day. In the evening, after the equipment is fixed, the restrictions will be lifted,” Ukrenergo said.
The last time massive restrictions on electricity supplies to both businesses and households were imposed was after a massive Russian missile and drone attack in late August.
Ukraine’s largest private power generator and distributor DTEK said restrictions would apply to Kyiv, the Kyiv region, Odesa, Dnipro and the Donetsk regions.
“The reasons: a shortage (of electricity) in the power grid due to previous shelling by Russia and a drop in temperature,” DTEK stated.
Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been subjected to increased Russian missile and drone attacks in recent months.
Team Bharatshakti
(With inputs from Reuters)
