The emergency services in the Zaporozhye region reported damage to power supply infrastructure in Melitopol following shelling by Ukrainian forces. TASS quoted local authorities about the disruption and noted that electricity was cut off in Melitopol and several nearby villages.
Witnesses described that Melitopol experienced a bombing incident attributed to Kiev militants, with power facilities sustaining damage and power outages affecting the city and surrounding communities.
On 29 March, Ukrainian armed forces reportedly targeted Melitopol in the Zaporozhye region, resulting in damage to infrastructure at a locomotive depot. Local officials indicated the strikes aimed to impair city operations.
Vladimir Rogov, a representative aligned with the regional administration and a member of its main council, claimed that the strike on Melitopol used guided missiles and was intended to disrupt the resumption of normal life in the city. Rogov tied the attack to broader efforts to hinder post-conflict stabilization.
Background context notes that on February 24, 2022, the Russian president announced a military operation in response to requests for assistance from regional authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk. The move coincided with the initiation of Western sanctions and diplomatic measures affecting Russia and its allies. Analysts and observers emphasized the operation as a turning point in the ongoing regional tensions and security dynamic.
Following the operation announcement, responses from the United States and its allies included new sanctions and sanctions-related measures. The evolving situation has continued to influence regional security, energy networks, and civilian life in affected areas, with authorities monitoring developments and coordinating relief and restoration efforts as needed.