A Russian drone attack on the northern Ukrainian town of Konotop caused significant damage to its energy infrastructure overnight, injuring at least 14 people and cutting off electricity to the town, local officials reported. Emergency crews were working to restore power to the town, which had a pre-war population of around 83,000. Authorities reported 10 explosions during the attack, with Konotop’s power grid left in a critical state. Mayor Artem Semenikhin said energy workers were prioritizing restoring electricity to the hospital and water supply system.
“At the moment, energy workers are doing everything they can to provide electricity to the hospital and the water supply system,” said Semenikhin. Despite the power outage, hospitals in Konotop continued to operate, he added.
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Konotop is located in the Sumy region, which has been a frequent target of Russian attacks in recent weeks. Sumy was also the staging ground for a surprise Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last month, aiming to seize the battlefield initiative. However, Ukraine’s advances in the region appear to have slowed, with a senior Russian commander claiming on Wednesday that Russian forces had retaken about 10 settlements in a counterattack. Ukraine has not commented on these latest developments.
The Konotop attack was part of a larger Russian offensive involving 64 drones, according to the Ukrainian air force. While 44 of the drones were shot down across nine regions, the strike on Konotop caused widespread damage. Such drone attacks have become a regular occurrence since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Mayor Semenikhin warned that the timeline for restoring power remained uncertain. In the meantime, authorities planned to provide water on an hourly basis to residents.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to intensify, with both sides launching drone strikes as Ukraine seeks to fight back despite being outgunned and lacking long-range missile capabilities.
Key Points
Russian Drone Attack on Konotop: A Russian drone strike inflicted severe damage on the energy infrastructure of Konotop, a northern Ukrainian town, injuring at least 14 people and cutting electricity to the area.
- Critical Damage to Power Grid: Ten explosions were reported during the attack, leaving the town’s power system in critical condition. Efforts to restore power, particularly to the hospital and water supply system, are underway.
- Frequent Attacks in Sumy Region: Konotop, located in Ukraine’s Sumy region, has been a frequent target of Russian strikes in recent weeks.
- Ukraine’s Incursion into Russia: Sumy was recently used by Ukraine as a staging ground for an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, though these advances appear to have stalled.
- Part of Broader Russian Offensive: The Konotop strike was part of a larger attack involving 64 drones across nine regions. Ukraine’s air force shot down 44 of them.
- Uncertain Timeline for Power Restoration: Local authorities are unsure when electricity will be fully restored and are providing water to residents on an hourly basis.
