Sawt Falasteen - US expedites air defence to Ukraine as Russia pounds power plants

More than two years into the Russian invasion, targeted missile and drone attacks have crippled Ukraine's electricity generation capacity and forced Kyiv to impose blackouts and import supplies from the European Union.

In the latest overnight strikes, "the enemy attacked a number of energy infrastructure facilities," the energy ministry said, adding that they had targeted four regions, including near Kyiv.

Zelensky has repeatedly urged Ukraine's allies to send more air-defence systems to protect the country's vital infrastructure.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Thursday that the United States would prioritise deliveries of anti-air missiles to Kyiv, ahead of other countries that have placed orders.

Zelensky meanwhile announced plans to boost new and alternative energy sources and infrastructure.

"The life of Ukraine must be preserved, particularly in terms of energy supply," he said in his evening televised address.

- Air defence aid -

Zelensky said in a message on X he was "deeply grateful" for the US move.

"These additional air defense capabilities will protect Ukrainian cities and civilians," he wrote.

Romania on Thursday also said it would send a Patriot missile system to Ukraine. Zelensky hailed it as "a truly powerful step" for regional security.

Romania's Supreme Council of National Defence said in a statement it made the move "considering the significant deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine".

Speaking after a visit to North Korea (DPRK) meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned its neighbour South Korea against heeding US calls to send arms to Ukraine.

"This would be a very big mistake," Putin said.

If South Korea sends arms, "we will take the according decision that the current South Korean leadership will probably not like."

- 'Crisis this winter' -

The largest private energy company in Ukraine, DTEK, said the attacks caused "serious damage" at one of its plants, without disclosing its location.

"This is already the seventh mass attack on the company's thermal power plant in the last three months," the company said.

Zelensky had earlier said those barrages halved generation capacity in the war-battered country compared to one year ago.

He urged the government to roll out tax breaks and loans to boost energy-saving technology.

"Solar panels, smart meters, and energy storage units must appear in every school and hospital as soon as possible," he said in a statement on social media.

DTEK's chief executive Maxim Timchenko echoed the calls for more military aid.

"We urgently need to close our skies or Ukraine faces a serious crisis this winter. My plea to allies is to help us defend our energy system and rebuild in time," he said.

- Russian 'precision' strikes -

Russia's defence ministry said it carried out "precision" strikes on energy facilities that support military production, as a response to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil facilities.

Following the latest Ukrainian attack on Russian territory, the governor of the Krasnodar region -- near Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula -- announced that one woman had been killed in a drone attack targeting oil facilities.

The Russian defence ministry said it had downed 15 Ukrainian drones that had also targeted oil storage depots in the southern Adygea republic and in the Tambov region.

Russia has stepped up fatal artillery attacks on embattled frontline regions in the south and east of Ukraine over recent weeks.

Russian cluster munitions and glide bombs killed four civilians and wounded four more in separate attacks in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, its governor said on Thursday.

The energy ministry said a team of engineers there came under fire while carrying out repairs on power lines. A 33-year-old worker was wounded, it added.

The Ukrainian energy ministry said seven employees at energy facilities had been wounded overall and more than 200,000 people had power temporarily cut off in the Vinnytsia region.

The Ukrainian military said Russian forces were trying to dislodge its troops from the nearby villages of Shumy and New York.

I.Matar--SF-PST