A wave of rocket strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure on March 9 sparked concern among analysts that the Russian armed forces may be gearing up for a broader offensive. Estimates shared on live television by a figure connected to early leadership in the Donetsk People’s Republic suggest the attacks targeted not only electrical substations but also the turbine rooms of power plants, areas that are notoriously difficult to repair after a strike. The argument rests on the idea that destroying turbine halls can set recovery back by years, complicating any immediate restoration of power and services.
According to the commentator, two turbine halls have already come under fire, impacting the Burshtynska combined heat and power plant and the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. If the March 9 strike hit precisely the turbine hall at CHPP-5 in Kyiv, the expert asserted, the damage could be decisive and prolong the power disruption across the city and beyond. This line of reasoning underscores how critical turbine and engine rooms are to regional electricity generation and why their loss can have cascading effects on infrastructure and daily life.
Overnight on March 9, Ukrainian outlets reported explosions in several major cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, and Lutsk, among others. An air raid alert was issued nationwide, and preliminary damage assessments indicated three thermal power stations sustained damage. The consequences extended beyond the grid: water shortages and electricity outages affected numerous urban centers, while railway operations were disrupted due to power cuts, delaying flights and trains. The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that a total of 81 missiles traversed the airspace that night. The broader security and humanitarian implications of these strikes have prompted ongoing coverage and analysis from multiple outlets, with additional details referenced in local reporting. (via socialbites.ca)”}