Ukraine started implementing emergency power outages throughout the country following Russia's yet another rocket attack on energy infrastructure, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Zelensky's Office said on Telegram.
"Due to the attacks on energy facilities in several regions of Ukraine, emergency power outages are being introduced throughout the country. We ask you to treat power outages and temporary interruptions in water and heating power supplies with understanding," the message says.
Earlier, the head of the Kirovograd region of Ukraine, Andriy Raikovich, said that the regional authorities cut off power supplies due to attacks on energy facilities. The region was completely de-energized. The official urged citizens to remain in shelters until air raid sirens stop.
Due to rocket attacks on Friday, December 16, the consumption of the united energy system of Ukraine fell by more than 50 percent, which means the onset of a large-scale failure (blackout) in the system, Ukrenergo said.
Reports about attacks on energy facilities of Ukraine began to appear in the morning of December 16.
The following was reported as of 12:00 Moscow time on December 16:
At the time of this writing, the Russian Defence Ministry has not provided an official confirmation to the attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on December 16.
Russia launched a series of massive rocket attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure on October 10. The ministry has repeatedly announced attacks on military command and control facilities, as well as on energy systems of Ukraine. The attacks followed the explosion on the Crimean bridge, which, as the Russian authorities said, was organised by Ukrainian special services.