Drone strikes DTEK repair vehicle as crew works to restore power in Dnipropetrovsk region

A russian FPV drone struck an aerial work platform operated by DTEK Dnipro Grids while a repair crew was travelling to reconnect electricity for customers in the Dnipropetrovsk region. 

The crew heard the drone approaching and had just enough time to abandon the vehicle and take cover. No one was injured. 

The vehicle itself did not escape damage. The cab was torn apart – doors blown out, windows shattered, the frame twisted by the blast. Parts of the crane‑manipulator and onboard equipment were also destroyed, leaving the platform unusable. 

This was not an isolated incident. 

Since the start of russia’s full‑scale invasion, DTEK Dnipro Grids infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed 264 times. Repair vehicles and crews working close to the front line have been targeted repeatedly – even while carrying out emergency work to restore electricity. 

Despite the danger, DTEK’s emergency teams continue to operate every day in frontline territories. As soon as clearance is given by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Emergency Service, crews return to work – repairing lines, reconnecting homes and keeping essential services running. 

The latest strike highlights a growing pattern. These attacks are not only aimed at substations or power lines. By targeting mobile repair teams, they also attempt to disrupt Ukraine’s ability to restore power at all. 

Even so, the work continues.