In the wake of a devastating series of Russian strikes on Ukraine's power infrastructure, a team of Associated Press reporters - Samya Kullab, Evgeniy Maloletka, and Vasilisa Stepanenko - visited the damaged DTEK thermal power plants to document the aftermath.
The article paints a harrowing picture of the attacks, describing how one worker, Taras, remained at his post in the control room as the air raid siren blared and his colleagues fled to safety. The deafening explosions and resulting fires and debris caused significant damage to the power plant's infrastructure.
DTEK reported a significant portion of its power generation capacity in the attacks on March 22 and 29, with facilities destroyed across the country. russia also targeted the transmission networks, further crippling Ukraine's electrical grid.
Mr.Timchenko, while surveying the damage at one of the power stations, expressed, "I've never seen in my life this level of destruction in a power station, and unfortunately, it happened to us."
The CEO estimated that the company could restore half of the damaged units within two to three months, but the repeated attacks have set back the company's strategic.
The article also includes a poignant quote from a DTEK engineer, who expressed concern about the vulnerability of the power infrastructure, stating, "If the skies were protected, I would feel calmer. Power infrastructure is something everything depends on. If there's no power, nothing works: Plants don't work. People are left without the internet. You won't even know when the missiles are flying at you."
The report underscores the devastating impact of russia's renewed focus on striking Ukrainian energy facilities, with the kremlin forces employing better intelligence and new tactics to overwhelm the country's air defences and cripple its economy.
