Russia Attacks Substation Critical to Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant with Drones
In a massive strike on 3 November, Russia sent three drones against a substation essential to the stable operation of Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal called the attack a serious escalation.
During a large-scale attack on Ukraine on 3 November, Russia targeted a substation vital to the stable operation of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant with three drones, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said. The strike is part of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and hit infrastructure on which the safety of a nuclear facility depends.
Shmyhal said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN-affiliated body that monitors nuclear safety, has been notified. In his words, such actions threaten not only Ukraine but nuclear safety across Europe.
He described the attack as a serious escalation and urged Ukraine's international partners to respond to strikes on infrastructure that keeps Ukrainian nuclear power plants running steadily.
Scale of the attack
In total, Russia used 289 drones, 17 ballistic missiles and 59 cruise missiles in this massive assault. The main targets were power plants and substations that form part of the electricity transmission and distribution systems.
Earlier developments
On 13 October, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that an agreement had been reached with the IAEA to deploy missions to 19 Ukrainian electricity substations.
