KYIV: Russia was able to destroy a major power plant serving Ukraine because Kyiv ran out of defensive missiles, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.
For three-and-a-half weeks, Moscow has carried out near-continuous attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, leaving more than 1 million people without electricity.
The Trypilska thermal power station, one of the biggest and most important electricity suppliers to the Kyiv region, was destroyed by Russian missiles on April 11, AFP reported.
Zelensky said in an interview with US channel PBS that there were eleven missiles flying. Ukrainian forces destroyed the first 7. Four destroyed Trypilska as there were zero missiles.
He said that Ukraine ran out of missiles to defend Trypilska.
Frustration in Ukraine
Kyiv has grown increasingly frustrated at aid hold-ups from allies, including air defenses which it says are urgently needed to repel deadly Russian strikes.
Zelensky’s warning came as overnight storms put further strain on Kyiv’s fragile energy system, disrupting power to thousands of people.
Ukraine’s energy ministry said Tuesday that due to the bad weather, 173 settlements in 4 regions are without power supply.
