Drone Assault Cripples Konotop’s Power Grid Amid Intensified Russian Strikes

Russian drones heavily damaged Konotop's energy infrastructure in a nighttime attack, injuring 14 people and disrupting electricity. Authorities scramble to restore power, focusing first on hospitals and water systems. The attack is part of a larger Russian offensive, with 64 drones targeting multiple Ukrainian regions.

Russian drones inflicted significant damage to the northern Ukrainian town of Konotop's energy infrastructure in an overnight attack that injured at least 14 people and cut electricity to the settlement, local officials said on Thursday.

Rescuers were working to restore power in the town, which had a pre-war population of about 83,000. Regional officials reported 10 explosions during the attack, and Mayor Artem Semenikhin stated the power system was in a critical condition. "At the moment, energy workers are doing everything they can to provide electricity to the hospital and the water supply system," he said early Thursday.

Hospitals continued to operate, he added. Konotop is in Sumy region, a recent target by Russia. Ukraine had used Sumy last month for a surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Initially, Kyiv's advances were rapid, but they have stalled. A senior Russian commander said on Wednesday his forces regained control of about 10 settlements.

Ukraine has not commented on the latest Russian reported gains. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield developments. The strike on Konotop was part of a broader Russian attack involving 64 drones, with 44 shot down over nine regions, the air force said.

Such attacks have become regular since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Despite being outgunned, Ukraine has launched hundreds of drones at Russia. Semenikhin said there was no timeline for power restoration, with water supply planned on an hourly basis. The strike damaged apartment buildings, medical and educational institutions, and a tramway, officials said.

A fire at a furniture storage warehouse in Khmelnytskyi region continued to burn. Chernihiv region's governor said Russia had intensified attacks there, damaging infrastructure but did not specify what was hit.

(With inputs from agencies.)