A series of blasts rocked several Ukrainian cities. An air raid alert was declared on the country’s entire territory. As Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko specified, the blasts largely damaged electric power generation, transmission and distribution facilities. Some Ukrainian cities are experiencing problems with water supply and communications, TASS reports.
A day before, explosions occurred in Kiev - the city’s authorities reported that two enterprises were damaged - and in the Zhitomir Region.
TASS has gathered key facts about the series of explosions in Ukraine.
An air raid alert was declared at about 5:30 a.m. Moscow time (2:30 a.m. GMT) in 14 regions and embraced all of the country’s 20 regions and Kiev by 5:45 a.m.
Reports came about explosions in Dnieper (formerly Dnepropetrovsk), Ivano-Frankovsk, Kiev, Krivoi Rog, Kropivnitsky (formerly Kirovograd), Sumy, Kharkov, Khmelnitsky and the Kiev-controlled city of Zaporozhye.
A critical infrastructure site was damaged in the Vinnitsa Region.
Electric power was cut off in some districts of Dnieper. Critical infrastructure facilities were damaged in Krivoi Rog in the Dnepropetrovsk Region and residents were recommended to charge their electronic devices and stock up on water. Emergency power outage schedules are in effect and social institutions are switching over to power generators where possible.
In Zaporozhye, infrastructural facilities were damaged, the Kiev-controlled city’s administration reported. Traffic across the auto and railway bridge of the Dnieper Hydroelectric Power Plant’s dam was restricted.
In Kropivnitsky, there are electric power interruptions and the lights are off in an emergency response.
In Kharkov, about 15 explosions occurred and the city is practically hit by a blackout and there are problems with water supply, the Internet and communications. The regional administration reports that a critical infrastructure facility has been damaged. According to its data, the explosions largely hit energy facilities.
In the Khmelnitsky Region (western Ukraine), the administrative center of Khmelnitsky and several communities have been left without electric power, in particular, Krasilov, Starokonstantinov (a military airfield is located in the city’s north) and Shepetovka.
The Polish armed forces warned the republic’s residents about the noise on the border with Ukraine due to aircraft scrambled by Poland and its allies.
Warsaw explains the operation of its Air Force by the "enhanced activity of Russian long-range aviation." Polish aircraft have been scrambled for the second time over the past 24 hours.
