Ukraine's DTEK suspends operations at some gas facilities after Russian attacks

Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK has suspended operations at several gas facilities in the eastern Poltava region after Russian attacks, the company said on Friday.

"Overnight, the enemy once again attacked the energy infrastructure of DTEK Oil & Gas with drones and missiles. As a result of the attack, operations at a number of gas production facilities in the Poltava region were halted," it said on X.

Authorities said that Russia launched a massive attack on several regions using 381 drones and 35 missiles targeting energy infrastructure in Kharkiv and Poltava regions in eastern Ukraine, where the main Ukrainian gas production facilities are located.

The authorities have not disclosed any details about the attack or the damage caused.

The country has already increased gas imports, fearing disruption of domestic supplies, and according to government plans, intends to stockpile 13.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas in storage facilities by mid-October. This will include some 4.6 bcm of imported gas.

With winter approaching - the fourth since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion - Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine's energy sector, which has already led to prolonged blackouts in several regions.

A drone attack on Kyiv and Chernihiv regions on Wednesday also knocked out power to the Chornobyl nuclear power plant for three hours, including the new containment vessel erected in 2016 to keep radiation from leaking.

The fourth reactor at the Chornobyl plant exploded in 1986 in the world's worst civil nuclear disaster.

On the battlefield on Thursday

Meanwhile Russia said on Thursday that its forces made advances on the frontlines, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported carrying out attacks on multiple fronts.

In a daily battlefield report, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces struck transportation infrastructure of Ukraine's defence industry enterprises and assembly sites of remote UAVs over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Russian air defence system intercepted one HIMARS rocket and shot down 142 drones.

It was also reported that Russian President Putin said the Russian military has advanced along almost all the contact lines.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported a total of 158 combat engagements. It claimed to have repelled Russian attacks in multiple directions, and launched strikes in the directions of Kupiansk and Toretsk in eastern Ukraine and Novopavlivka in southeastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian air force, missile units and artillery forces hit targets in Russian troop concentrations and command posts as well, it said.

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